Clive Allen, the Tottenham assistant first team coach, has described Arsène Wenger as “two-bob” after the north London derby descended into acrimony on the touchline and in the stands.
11:30PM BST 02 Oct 2011
12 Comments The match had already been marred by abusive chants from both sets of fans, with Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp condemning what he called the “disgusting” behaviour of some supporters.
And Wenger’s day got worse when it was revealed by the French Football Federation on Sunday night that Arsenal right-back Bacary Sagna is set to be out for three months with a broken leg following a challenge with Benoît Assou-Ekotto.
“The France team doctor, Fabrice Bryand, was informed by his Arsenal colleague of an unstable fracture to Bacary Sagna’s right fibula,” a FFF statement said. “The defender will be operated on tomorrow and is expected to be out for around three months.”
Redknapp’s attention, though, was on what was going on in the stands. “How can you sing this?” he said. “You can’t be right mentally. You need help.” Arsenal fans had especially targeted Emmanuel Adebayor, chanting: “Shot in Angola — it should have been you.” Adebayor was on the Togo team bus during the African Cup of Nations last year when three people were killed after it came under fire. Arsenal fans also sang: “You should have burned in the riots”, in reference to the recent civil unrest in Tottenham.
Spurs fans have previously been guilty of abusive chants towards Adebayor, a former Arsenal striker, and again targeted Wenger on Sunday.
Wenger also came under fire after the whistle. The Arsenal manager had shaken hands with Redknapp and Kevin Bond, the Spurs assistant manager, and then walked past Allen. It was not clear whether Wenger saw Allen, but the former Tottenham striker thought he had been snubbed and reacted angrily. Allen then pointedly offered his hand to Wenger, who ignored it and beckoned him into the tunnel. Allen had to be restrained by stewards and police to prevent him confronting Wenger.
“He refused to shake my hand,” said Allen. “He says he didn’t see or hear me. But he’s two-bob, he is.”
Wenger said that there had been no words exchanged with Allen. “I shook the hand of the manager and the assistant manager,” he said. “How many people do I have to shake hands with? Is there a prescription?” Asked if Allen wanted to make himself the story, Wenger said: “Yes.”
Wenger also complained about Tottenham’s first goal, claiming Rafael van der Vaart, who had been booked, should have been sent off for using his arm to control the ball. “The first goal is handball and I wondered what the linesmen do in this situation,” Wenger said. “It was a second yellow card.”
With his team 12 points behind Manchester United, Wenger admitted: “To say we will win the league is not realistic.” Of the abusive chanting, he added: “We respect everybody and we want to be respected.”
“He refused to shake my hand,” said Allen. “He says he didn’t see or hear me. But he’s two-bob, he is.”
Wenger said that there had been no words exchanged with Allen. “I shook the hand of the manager and the assistant manager,” he said. “How many people do I have to shake hands with? Is there a prescription?” Asked if Allen wanted to make himself the story, Wenger said: “Yes.”
Wenger also complained about Tottenham’s first goal, claiming Rafael van der Vaart, who had been booked, should have been sent off for using his arm to control the ball. “The first goal is handball and I wondered what the linesmen do in this situation,” Wenger said. “It was a second yellow card.”
With his team 12 points behind Manchester United, Wenger admitted: “To say we will win the league is not realistic.” Of the abusive chanting, he added: “We respect everybody and we want to be respected.”