Source: Daily_Mail
GRAHAM POLL: It's about time that Wenger took his red-tinted glasses off
Arsenal are back in a fascinating Premier League title races after they won 2-0 against Sunderland at the Emirates on Saturday - a win which brought no post-match complaints from Arsene Wenger. [LNB]Can the Frenchman really be as transparent as that? Win and the ref is either fine or not worthy of comment? [LNB]Well, after the ill-advised comments made after the Champions League defeat at Porto on Wednesday and again on Friday, it would appear that Wenger is again proving to be a poor loser.[LNB] I did not see it: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is renowned for his selective vision on contentious moments in the match[LNB]Remember, this is the man who famously baited Sir Alex Ferguson back in 2002 with the comment 'everyone thinks they have the prettiest wife at home'. Perhaps, now, it is time for Wenger to acknowledge that he once again is wearing red-tinted spectacles. [LNB] More from Graham Poll... GRAHAM POLL: Ref Hansson was right to allow Falcao's bizarre goal18/02/10 Graham Poll: Girls Aloud - it's official... why we should welcome Amy Fearn10/02/10 GRAHAM POLL: Martin Atkinson lets the Merseyside mayhem unfold as Liverpool and Everton raise red card count08/02/10 GRAHAM POLL: Alan Shearer and Anthony Gardner are lucky they don't face the same scrutiny as referees01/02/10 Graham Poll: Spurs are upset but no mistake...it was definitely a penalty24/01/10 Graham Poll: William Gallas's tackle on Mark Davies was a shocker, so why didn't FA act?21/01/10 Graham Poll: Mike Dean was wrong to award Manchester City their penalty20/01/10 GRAHAM POLL: Our World Cup ref proves his class but Rafa is left fuming18/01/10 VIEW FULL ARCHIVEOn Saturday, a neutral observer would have thought that Arsenal's first goal looked offside and their second came from a dubious penalty award in stoppage time. [LNB]However, as both decisions went the Gunners' way, Wenger appeared content with referee Steve Bennett. [LNB]In his early, more successful days at Arsenal, Wenger was often parodied as having 20-20 vision for incidents which he felt should have gone his way. And on the flip side, he would claim 'I did not see it' when asked about the misdemeanors of his own players.[LNB]Perhaps Wenger feels his team is again close to success and so has reverted to his jaundiced interpretation of referee's decisions.[LNB]His slanted views were made obvious when again bleating about Porto's quickly taken free-kick at Friday's press conference. [LNB]When listing the problems with the winning goal he forgot how he cited Thierry Henry as 'genius' for having the awareness and vision to take free-kicks quickly when scoring against Aston Villa and Chelsea. [LNB]On his list of five problems with the goal was the fact the ball was not on the exact blade of grass where Fabianski picked the ball up. It was petty in the extreme.[LNB] Behind the times: Lukasz Fabianski is caught out last week against Porto[LNB] [LNB]Wenger himself would be the first to complain if referees took him at his word and made every restart be taken from the precise point the offence occurred. It would simply interrupt the beautiful game which he admires so much. And he knows it. [LNB]But, as his team lost, then this particular decision cannot have been fair.[LNB]Wenger is rightly recognised as a fantastic coach who loves to teach young players how to play his way. But maybe it's time someone taught him how to lose with good grace and dignity.[LNB]After all, it can't always be the referee's fault.[LNB] Good week for Bobby Zamora[LNB]Bad week for Steve Bennett[LNB] Enlarge Enlarge [LNB]One of the nicest players I have refereed, Zamora is back from injury and scoring winning goals for fun at Fulham. Having had the misfortune to send him off for two cautions when playing for West Ham - against Fulham - I am delighted to see that he has silenced his critics and is being recognised as the natural goalscorer he has always been.[LNB]As a FIFA referee instructor, Steve will be lecturing on the recognition and punishment of two-footed challenges which they are committed to eradicating. Yet, Bennett only booked Sunderland's Lorik Cana after his shocking lunge on Emmanuel Eboue in the first half at the Emirates. Now, that was something Wenger should have moaned about.[LNB] [LNB]
