Source: Daily_Mail
Off the hook: Nasri and Barmby in the clear over angry clash at Emirates
Samir Nasri has escaped punishment despite a stamp on Hull City's Richard Garcia missed by referee Steve Bennett but seen clearly by millions of TV viewers.[LNB]Arsenal's 3-0 win at the Emirates was shown live on ESPN on Saturday and BBC's Match of the Day later focused on the flashpoint which triggered a mass confrontation of players, pushing and pulling at each other.[LNB]On the replays, Nasri can clearly be seen lifting his boot and sinking his studs on to Garcia's ankle and foot during a stoppage. Garcia collapsed in pain and a skirmish broke out.[LNB]When he got the situation under control, Bennett showed a yellow card to Nasri and Stephen Hunt but told Hull's players the pair had been booked for their roles in the fracas.[LNB]The referee then admitted to the Football Association he had not seen Nasri's stamp and agreed to examine the TV footage.[LNB] Kicking off: The Tigers pounced on Nasri after he left Garcia grounded....[LNB] ...before it escalated into a mass confrontation involving most of the players[LNB] [LNB] Lip service: Nasri and Barmby got up close and personal during the melee[LNB] But, after reviewing the evidence yesterday, Bennett decided nofurther action was necessary because he could see nothing worthy of astraight red card for violent conduct.[LNB]It was a surprising call from a ref with a reputation as a strictdisciplinarian but will be a huge relief to Arsene Wenger. Had he Nasriwould have been banned for three games but he is now free to play inthe Premier League game at home to Aston Villa on Sunday.[LNB]Hull's Nick Barmby will also be pleased. He could be seen to push Nasri in the face but has also escaped punishment.[LNB]Wenger, meanwhile, claimed the last four 'trophyless' years have contained his finest work as manager of Arsenal.[LNB]He made the statement as he reflected on a decade when the Gunners won the Premier League without losing a game in 2003-04.[LNB]Challenges: Wenger[LNB]No other team has survived a top flight campaign without defeat butthe Arsenal manager believes a greater achievement has been to maintainstandards on the pitch amid the financial pressures of the move fromHighbury to the Emirates Stadium.[LNB]'The last four years have been the most challenging period of mycareer,' said Wenger. 'But it is not linked with not winning a trophy.Moving into a stadium and keeping the team at the top means my bestperiod at the club has been in the last four years.[LNB]'Unfortunately, we've not won trophies but people forget we havebeen consistent and it has been the most difficult period but also theperiod when I have worked the best. [LNB]To move into a new stadium with less resources, respect the fact wehave still made some money every single year without the team droppingdown a level.'[LNB]Wenger has faith in his policy of creating a team from young players.[LNB]'People forget that the average age of our players is 22 years oldand what they do at their age is remarkable,' said the Frenchman, whojoined Arsenal in 1996.[LNB]'When you have never won, the most difficult thing is to win thefirst trophy. Once you are convinced you can win, the rest becomeeasier because you relax just a little bit.'[LNB]But pressure is being applied by some shareholders who are keen tosee Wenger reinforce his young squad next month. Minor shareholdershold the balance of power as Stan Kroenke and Alisher Usmanov jostlefor ownership of the club.[LNB]Wenger is reluctant to pay big money for players with limited sell-on value but he often does business in January.[LNB]He has already revealed he would like to sign a striker after Robinvan Persie was ruled out for five months with an ankle injury, althoughthe surgeon who operated on the Dutchman says he may be back in April.[LNB]'When you have such a big surgery, the opinion of the surgeon isimportant,' said Wenger. 'Will he be the player he was before? We had aclear answer, 'Yes'.'[LNB] [LNB] Arsenal 3 Hull City 0: Bad blood continues in another x-rated clashArsenal star Nasri faces stamp ban as ref tells FA he did not see Hull incidentArsenal goalkeeper Almunia slams Hull for 'not knowing how to play football'Hull boss Phil Brown confirms Nick Barmby picked up calf injury during Arsenal defeat HULL CITY FC
