Source: Team_Talk
Redknapp: Nasri dived to win penalty
Harry Redknapp has accused Samir Nasri of diving to win Arsenal their first penalty in Tuesday's 4-1 Carling Cup victory at Tottenham.[LNB] The Frenchman went down under pressure from Sebastien Bassong and then picked himself up to give the Gunners a 2-1 lead early in extra-time after the north London derby finished 1-1 after 90 minutes.[LNB]Nasri then scored a second penalty - after Steven Caulker pulled down Marouane Chamakh - and Andrey Arshavin completed the scoring in a 4-1 victory for Arsene Wenger's men.[LNB]Redknapp said: "I thought the first penalty was harsh. He fell over. Really, I think he dived for the first penalty.[LNB]"The second was blatant."[LNB]Bassong agreed on the first spot-kick, adding: "He went down too easily, I didn't think it was a penalty.[LNB]"He told me afterwards that I barely touched him. [LNB]"It leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I touched Nasri's chest but I did not grab him. I have seen the video and from my point of view, it was not a penalty."[LNB]Nasri revealed he had agreed in advance with manager Arsene Wenger that he would take any spot-kicks at White Hart Lane, after Tomas Rosicky missed from 12 yards against Sunderland on Saturday.[LNB]"I provoked the foul and then I didn't take the penalty," Nasri said. "But after I talked with the boss and said, 'Next time I will take the penalty', and I scored."[LNB]Wenger explained that Nasri had previously resisted taking penalties after fouls on himself.[LNB]"He had a superstition to think that when a penalty is made on you not to take it," Wenger said. "But I tried to prove to him that that's solely based on fear.[LNB]"He realises now that it was a bad superstition."[LNB]Nasri hailed Jack Wilshere as a player with a big England future after [LNB]the Arsenal youngster's outstanding midfield display inspired his side to victory.[LNB]"He's a really good player," Nasri told Sky Sports.[LNB]"Last year when he went (on loan) to Bolton it helped him because he played a lot of games.[LNB]"Now he's ready to play and be a good player for Arsenal.[LNB]"And I think England need a player like him. Jack is a wonderful prospect for the future."[LNB]Wilshere is hoping Arsenal can go all the way to Wembley in the competition, but cautioned: "We don't want to get ahead of ourselves.[LNB]"In the last couple of years, we fell short.[LNB]"Hopefully we can concentrate on each match as they come and hopefully we can win it."
