Eurosport - Sun, 07 Dec 14:45:00 2008
Reaction from the dugout after Saturday's Premier League games, with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger revealing he withdrew substitute Emmanuel Eboue because he had become "a danger".
Arsenal 1-0 Wigan
Arsene Wenger: "It was a difficult decision, but he had completely lost his confidence. He couldn't keep the ball any more and had become a danger. I just didn't want the 90 minutes' work to go to waste. The fans contributed. He's a sensitive boy who wants to do well and he cares about the club. It was very sad but the important thing was that we won the game."
Steve Bruce: "I thought we deserved something out of it. They got the break with the goal which we needed and the longer it went, I just felt we would get something."
Manchester United 1-0 Sunderland
Sir Alex Ferguson: "I had a long chat with Carlos Tevez (left out of the starting line-up despite scoring four in the Carling Cup win over Blackburn). If the performance had not been as good (in the 1-0 win at) Manchester City last week he would have played. But I couldn't get him on quickly enough in the second half. He brought energy to the front part of the pitch. It was a really good half hour."
Ricky Sbragia: "We stuck in there; we were under severe pressure the whole game. Credit to the players: I thought we showed a good spirit, we worked ever so well and, on top of that, after Thursday's episode (Roy Keane's resignation), the attitude was first class. A lot of the players came to the club because of Roy. We were disappointed. All the staff were disappointed and it came as a shock."
Blackburn 1-3 Liverpool
Paul Ince: "It was an exceptional performance. We have not got the three points but we have to take some positives from the game. It is always difficult against Liverpool, but we matched them for long spells and that was pleasing."
Rafael Benitez: "We have to play with confidence because we're in a very good position. If we can move and pass the ball like we did against Blackburn and be more clinical in front of goal, that will be really important through Christmas time. We saw again that we can manage the pressure and play well if it's necessary."
Bolton 0-2 Chelsea
Gary Megson: "I've said it before, and I'll reiterate it, but bigger teams get the decisions. I didn't think that that kind of decision would go our way. I have to admit I didn't see it properly. I just saw the shot and our players appeal, but it's no surprise it wasn't given. It would have been more of a surprise if it had."
Ray Wilkins: "If you are looking for an angle then that team might have fallen apart, but the spirit and application in the camp is absolutely different class. You cannot perform like that if there is dissension about. They have performed to a very high standard."
Newcastle 2-2 Stoke
Chris Hughton: "I think (boss Joe Kinnear was sent off) for perceived comments, but from where I was, I certainly didn't hear anything. That's what I think it was for. Joe's okay, he is fine. He just felt that every now and again it is not a bad idea to have a little change of voice. One thing I can tell you is that it's a very, very emotional game, certainly at that stage of the game."
Tony Pulis: "For the first time this season, I really, really got stuck into a few people at half-time. We shook it around a little bit and the response was absolutely fantastic, and we are desperately disappointed we have not won the game to be honest."
Hull 2-1 Middlesbrough
Phil Brown: "It is a fabulous day for us. We were disappointed to go a goal behind, but that probably puts us top of the league - at going a goal behind and getting something from the game."
Gareth Southgate: "Obviously the winning goal is pretty questionable. I think the pictures clearly show [Geovanni] is offside to start with. He is coming back from an offside position and that gives him an advantage. We should have defended it instead of appealing, but then it just looks pretty soft and when I think about the other decisions given throughout the afternoon, for them to get a decision in that area of the field I find very surprising."
Roy Hodgson: "We had a poor start which cost us a goal, which you can't complain about because we didn't defend the cross well. Our tempo in the first 15 minutes was poor. What pleased me most was that we got ourselves back on track. We played some good football during the rest of the first half which led to a fantastic equaliser."
Mark Hughes: "Given the number of senior players I had out, which was something like 12, we should be reasonably happy today. But going into an early lead, you hope to build on that - but they got back on level terms and that was a disappointment."
Comment 19 - 38 of 38
@Hotshot
arsenal fans only booed 1 player off
liverpool fans booed there whole team!!!
but every1 likes to shoot arsenal you sore lossers
arsenal 4lyfe
I support you X3081. The persons who boo Eboue are not Arsenal supporters. They are Spurs supporters wearing Arsenal shirts. They should be ashamed of themselves. Why not let them play on that night if they are better than Eboue. Come to your sense, support the players and the team if not don't attend the game. Just stay home and you won't get that frustrated.
Wenger continually shows that he is arrogant and will not listen. I've never know a manager claim not to have seen so many incidents that his players are involved in when they're at fault but, strangely, see more than anyone else when he thinks they are not. The man's a fool. I'd respect him more if he admitted, as other top managers do, when he has made an error. It tales a man to admit that he is wrong.
Until the likes of Bendtner, Eboue, Denilson, Diaby, Djorou, Silvestre and Gallas are out of the current Arsenal team, there will be no trophy. Until Wenger start seeing that Eboue is not a midfielder, Diaby is not a striker, Bendtner won't even start a game at Newcastle....Every other game will bring the arsenal fans misery. Arsenal beat Man U and Chelsea becuase they underestimate them... something liverpool wont do. Arsenal need to change their current Policy. Its getting us no trophy. A Soon be gun Arsenal Fan.
Comeent 34,
I agree with you completely, its very clear to me that arsenal will never win any trophy again so long as wenger is in charge. His defense of his policy to only buy young and/expired players like sylvestre is a clear indication of what the future prtends for arsenal if the board do not get rid of him soon.
A frustrated arsenal fan
Alright, alright, lets all give arsenal a hard time shall we..? No, lets not.. Ok, so they are not having the best season and they may need some better players, but dont forget that they have beaten manu and chelsea without being a sell out team like the other so-called BIG 3.. Liverpool have never won the prem, and will be a miracle if they do it this season. Lets all slag them off for being under achievers, not arsenal who are actualy setting a good example of training youngsters, which is what the game should be about.
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its a shame to see arsenal fans booing a player like eboue who has given so much to the club. i really think Wenger should take all the blame for arsenal's current struggle as a football team. what are players like djourrou, song, abu diabi, gallas, SYLVESTRE!(for crying out loud!), denilson, and His Royal Weakness, Lord Bendtner doing in an arsenal 1st eleven team?...and to worsen it all, these names are all fielded at once in certain matches! wenger should begin to shop for players in decent places rather than this a-dime-for-a-dozen kids concept. is anyone bothered about wenger being sued for child labour?...where are my arsenal heroes?!
luobobajo01, My candid advice change and become maybe 'close minded' and stop sharing naked pics online because there is a place called hell fire where sinners end up after their life here on earth.
I'm not an arsenal supporter but I don't think booing can help a player if the manager gets him off, that will not help his stamina!
Eboue Whinges. Eboue dives. Eboue feigns injury. Eboue tries to get other players sent off. Eboue is fundamentally a @#$% excuse for a footballer. Please @#$% off Mr. Eboue.
As an Arsenal fan who goes to games constantly, home and away, it's a disgrace that any Arsenal player should get booed. I dont think bendtner, denilson or eboue are good enough to be in the first 11 at the moment but booing any player doesnt help and those 'supporters' that booed on saturday should be ashamed and should go and support spurs, west ham or newcastle where that behaviour is acceptable. Eboue had been out for 5-6 weks and was playing left midfield when he is a right sided player. C'mon Arsenal fans be supporters and support!!!!
Arsenal has the potential to win all the titles at stake. Discipline must be their watchword and they must be focussed.From Larry-Pee
i hate bendter too by the way. he is terrible. not a prmier league top club standard for sure. GO TO France and play for someone like PSG.
I do not understand how people can call themselves true Arsenal supporters after booing their own player.
I don't think eboue is that good a player. He can't tackle. He can't pass. alright, he has an okay shot, and he does a a little bit of pace. But the only season in which he had a good one was the year we got to the champions league final. He was playing at RIGHTBACK. Wenger: you want to get something out of him, play himat rightback. he is useless in the midfieald.
Why should arse fans boo eboue and let people like bendtner go free...eboue is a very good player and has given his all to arsenal...Lets not 4get that he was the best right full back before AW started playing him in weird positions...from right winger to defensive midfielder even to attacking midfielder...and ystday he was put as a left winger...Lets give this guy a break and remember that he was the fans favourite when he used to play his natural position...Lets all blame Wenger for putting players in positions that expose them and for having a player like Bendtner in his team...
arsenal will win treble nothing
united had no hope of any silverwares this season!!!
Wenger was harsh on Eboue but thats Premiership footy
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