Wenger softens Taylor stance
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has retracted comments calling for Birmingham City defender Martin Taylor to be banned for life following his horror tackle on Eduardo on Saturday.
Taylor was shown a red card in the opening moments of the 2-2 draw at StAndrews after he caught the Gunners striker, who apparently suffered a badly broken leg.
Immediately after the game, in which James McFadden equalised in injury-time, a furious Wenger said: 'This guy should never play football again. What is he doing on the football pitch?'
Blues boss Alex McLeish and former manager Steve Bruce jumped to the defence of the player, who was described as 'distraught', and Wenger has now softened his stance.
'It was a highly emotional afternoon and we were all shocked by the injury to Eduardo,' said Wenger, who expects the Croatian to miss this summer's European Championships.
'On reflection, I feel that my comments about Martin Taylor were excessive. I said what I did immediately after the game in the heat of the moment.'
Arsenal confirmed this evening that Eduardo had undergone surgery on a broken leg.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Taylor denies intent over Eduardo injury
Taylor denies intent over Eduardo injury
Birmingham City central defender Martin Taylor has insisted there was 'no malicious intent' in his tackle which has left Arsenal striker Eduardo with a suspected broken leg.
Click here
Eduardo, who will be 25 on Monday, was stretchered off after Taylor's third-minute challenge in the 2-2 draw at St Andrews and was immediately taken to hospital.
Taylor was given a straight red card and now faces an automatic three-match suspension.
But Gunners manager Arsene Wenger claimed the former Blackburn player 'should not be allowed to play again' in a blistering attack on the player.
Birmingham have responded this evening by issuing a three paragraph statement in defence of Taylor who was left 'distraught' by the extent of Eduardo's injury according to manager Alex McLeish.
The statement reads: 'The club are saddened that such a fantastic game of football has been marred by a serious injury sustained to Arsenal player Eduardo.
'But Martin Taylor is adamant there was no malicious intent in the tackle and he is deeply upset by the extent of Eduardo's injury.
'Having reviewed the incident, this (no malicious intent) is clearly the case. The club and Martin Taylor would like to send their very best wishes to the player for a speedy recovery.'
Wenger claimed: 'The tackle was horrendous and this guy (Taylor) should never play football again. It goes along with this idea that to stop Arsenal you have to kick Arsenal.
'That kind of thing was waiting to happen because many people got away with too many bad tackles. We escaped a few times but it's just not acceptable. If that is football, we are better to stop it.
'I am hugely disappointed and you cannot accept that on a football pitch.'
Birmingham City central defender Martin Taylor has insisted there was 'no malicious intent' in his tackle which has left Arsenal striker Eduardo with a suspected broken leg.
Click here
Eduardo, who will be 25 on Monday, was stretchered off after Taylor's third-minute challenge in the 2-2 draw at St Andrews and was immediately taken to hospital.
Taylor was given a straight red card and now faces an automatic three-match suspension.
But Gunners manager Arsene Wenger claimed the former Blackburn player 'should not be allowed to play again' in a blistering attack on the player.
Birmingham have responded this evening by issuing a three paragraph statement in defence of Taylor who was left 'distraught' by the extent of Eduardo's injury according to manager Alex McLeish.
The statement reads: 'The club are saddened that such a fantastic game of football has been marred by a serious injury sustained to Arsenal player Eduardo.
'But Martin Taylor is adamant there was no malicious intent in the tackle and he is deeply upset by the extent of Eduardo's injury.
'Having reviewed the incident, this (no malicious intent) is clearly the case. The club and Martin Taylor would like to send their very best wishes to the player for a speedy recovery.'
Wenger claimed: 'The tackle was horrendous and this guy (Taylor) should never play football again. It goes along with this idea that to stop Arsenal you have to kick Arsenal.
'That kind of thing was waiting to happen because many people got away with too many bad tackles. We escaped a few times but it's just not acceptable. If that is football, we are better to stop it.
'I am hugely disappointed and you cannot accept that on a football pitch.'
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
