Source: Team_Talk
Wenger defends Arsenal record
Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal are not a "dirty" team - and says there is no sense of "paranoia" at Emirates Stadium.[LNB] Jack Wilshere's red card for a studs-up challenge on Birmingham striker Nikola Zigic at the end of Saturday's Premier League game grabbed the headlines - many of which had more than a sense of Schadenfreude at the expense of the Arsenal manager who has long championed the need to clamp down on over-the-top tackles.[LNB]Wenger had used his pre-match programme notes to issue another rallying call against the hatchet men, only to then find himself on the backfoot after Arsenal collected their third red card of the season - the most of any team in the top flight.[LNB]The Gunners boss, though, was in defiant mood when he again addressed the thorny issue at today's media conference ahead of the Champions League clash against Shakhtar Donetsk.[LNB]"I am still calling for it, I defend football. Whether my players are involved or not doesn't matter," Wenger declared.[LNB]"Look at the fair-play table in the last five years - you will always find Arsenal in the top two or three. That speaks for the consistency in our behaviour.[LNB]"It is true occasionally we go overboard, but that does not mean in the longer term our record is not fantastic. That is what you have to look at."[LNB]Wenger continued: "The problem in the modern game is one incident makes a lifelong story. It is not like that.[LNB]"You have to look and take a distance with our record and the way we want to play football.[LNB]"You will not find many people in Europe who will tell you Arsenal is a dirty team."[LNB]Speaking after Saturday's 2-1 win, which halted a run of successive Premier League defeats, Wenger accepts some people will always claim Arsenal are "wrong" - no matter how he tries to approach the game.[LNB]However, the Gunners boss insisted that was very much part and parcel of life at a top side.[LNB]"I have no paranoia feelings at all," Wenger insisted.[LNB]"I think to live in a big club you are more highlighted than other clubs and you have to live with that.[LNB]"As well you have to take a big enough distance to feel if it is true or not."[LNB]Wenger added: "We are here to make sure football is played in the right way.[LNB]"I don't say we're untouchable and that we don't make mistakes, because we make them as well.[LNB]"But overall I believe we commit very few fouls in the game and we try to play in a fair way.[LNB]"When we make a mistake, we come out and say sorry and we won't do it again."[LNB]Wilshere immediately apologised for his "mistimed" challenge and insists he will learn from the situation as he serves a three-match domestic ban.[LNB]The 18-year-old is, though, likely to be involved in tomorrow night's European tie.[LNB]"Jack made a mistake, but he came out and said 'I am sorry, I apologise and I deserve my red card'. You cannot ask for much more," Wenger said.[LNB]"The fortunate situation is that the player he tackled was not badly injured. For the rest, I believe he will handle it well."
