Arsene Wenger was forced to defend midfielder Emmanuel Eboue after another cheating row brewed during Arsenal's Barclays Premier League victory Wigan.
Eboue was booked for deliberate handball when he got on the end of a cross midway through the first half in the 4-0 win at the Emirates Stadium, just a few weeks after Eduardo's diving saga erupted.
"Of course we want to stamp out cheating in the game," Wenger said. "It is not necessarily cheating sometimes, it (handball) can be a reflex as well. I do not encourage cheating and we all have to fight against it, but in this particular situation it can be a reflex as well."
This was a symbolic match for Eboue as he was jeered by his own supporters in the fixture last season. On this occasion he was cheered off when substituted in the 73rd minute, confirming his cult-hero status.
It was a typical performance from the Ivory Coast international as he was productive - he deflected Eduardo's shot in for the third goal - but raised eyebrows with his celebrations.
Thomas Vermaelen scored the first two goals - a header from a corner and a delightful curling effort. He now has four goals since arriving from Ajax.
Wenger joked: "Let's be honest for once. I thought he could adapt quickly but maybe not as quickly as that."
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez was furious with his side's display after Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas wrapped up the scoring in stoppage time.
"We were very poor in our performance," Martinez said. "That was not our style at all. We did not get anywhere near the Arsenal players in the first half.
"Our starting position was wrong and there was a lack of belief. We are not normally a defensive side, but we had a slow start and that was the reason for our performance. I cannot not take any positives from the performance - or the lack of it."
Comment 1 - 15 of 15
Arsenal always cheating? What games are you people watching? To those who write this stuff, take the time to think before you type some stupid BS. Bunch of dummies. What's next? That Man Ure play honest football. Give me a break.
Burts it was a gooner who first recommended English lessons to another poster. However that is the height of Irony since only your Manager appears to have any English and it isn't his mother tongue either
Unfair criticism, hatred, jealousy, u name it! The first reason a non Arsenal fan has for watching our game is to enjoy the most attractive set pieces in the pl. All the other trash they come out breathing furiously is their frustration that their teams cannot attain the beauty we attain in our games. So yap on, loudmouths.
And to correct other blogger's english here is the height of your naivety. Not all of us are blessed to have english as our 1st language and learning it takes gist and determination.
same old arsenal always cheating
Number 10 I think number 7s comments more adequately fit you than the poster they were aimed at. As for least money in the transfer window and economically secure. The reason the former is nescesary is because the latter is definitely not the case. The debt on the emirates makes Arsenal less secure than at least 15 Premiership clubs including Portsmouth. However Arsenal will need to start spending on Home grown talent soon instead of mercenaries from across the channel because even if England are daft enough to cap Almunia he won't count in the home grown quota which at present looks like two Englishmen and a Welshman
They all criticize arsenal cos they are the most entertaining team, they play the best football, win games convincingly, dont bribe match officials, dont muscle there way to win games spend least money on tranfer windows for top quality players, are economically sound, have the best stadium facility, have the best brain in management, they are continiously improving, why won't the likes of Adebayor celebrate when they score against such a team, that he was part of and later kicked-out off, why wont he love to shake hands with members of such a team, and why won't others critisize what this team members do? the answer is simply jealosy!!!!!
make that 998 number 8 and please stop giving the devil the bum's rush
Comment 4 because he is right. Its reported Wenger's latest whinge is against persistent foulers which is supposedly a veiled criticism of Darren Fletcher. Maybe he should take a look at Song.
To use a Wenger analogy if you ask 1000 people in the street whether Eduardo is a diver (and therefore a cheat and subsequently a liar for denying it) then 999 would agree and the other 1 is a gooner fan or employee.
BTW while there was absolutely no justification for Adebayor's reaction the reason he was in the air to stamp on Van Persil (pun intended) was because the dutchman had just launched a two footed lunge where if the ball was the target he needs to visit specsavers.
I used to like Arsenal because they played attractive football but they are now so full of self inflated whingers starting from the top down.
Ref 5 They do English lessons at your local School in the evenings, Perhaps you could book into one and learn how to make a sensible sentance,or have you special needs !
Gunnerz!
Wenger would defend the devil himself if he was playing for Arsenal....
Yes,Eboue as Edouardo are cheaters and should be over for quite a few plays.
Comment 2, why don't you stop putting this rubbish on blogs that have nothing to do with the subject matter......PS Well done The Arsenal.
every other team does what they do and never been scrutinized...yep its Arsenal lets make a big deal out of it. why would anyone consider tha to be cheating...?? how do you balance your body in mid air at the angle Eboue was. this dnt even worth commenting on
Always Arsenal - Cheating b******s
Fantastic!
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