Controversies
Wenger's sides were often criticised for their indiscipline, receiving 52 red cards between 1996 and 2003. After a contentious draw at Old Trafford in late 2003, however, Arsenal have rid themselves of the reputation. In 2004 and 2005 Wenger's Arsenal won the Premier League's Fair Play League tables for sporting behaviour. In 2006 Arsenal finished second, behind Charlton Athletic.
In 1999, Wenger offered Sheffield United F.C. a replay of their FA Cup 4th round game immediately after the match finished after Arsenal's winning goal scored by Marc Overmars had resulted from Kanu failing to return the ball to the opposition after it had been kicked into touch to allow a Sheffield United player to receive treatment for an injury. Arsenal won the replayed game 2-1.
He is also well known for his rivalry with Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, as Arsenal and United were arch-rivals for the Premiership and FA Cup throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s. This rivalry reached its culmination in the infamous "Pizzagate" incident at Old Trafford in October 2004 after a 2-0 defeat, where after the match his Arsenal side threw food at the opposition in the tunnel, though Wenger claimed not to have seen it. Ferguson is widely accepted to be a master of mind games. However, arguably, Ferguson subsequently met his match in mind games with Wenger.Wenger was fined £15,000 for calling United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy "a cheat" in a post-match television interview. After he was fined he again called Van Nistelrooy a cheat, proving that, despite a fine, he firmly believed his claim.Both managers have since agreed to tone down their words in an attempt to defuse the rivalry.
During October and November 2005, Wenger became embroiled in a war of words with Chelsea manager José Mourinho. Mourinho accused Wenger of having an "unprofessional obsession" with Chelsea; he went as far as labelling Wenger a "voyeur", and was quoted as saying, "He's worried about us, he's always talking about us - it's Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea". Wenger responded by pointing out he was only answering journalists' questions about Chelsea, and described Mourinho's attitude as "disrespectful". Mourinho has since been quoted as saying that he regrets the "voyeur" comment, and Wenger has accepted his apology.
Wenger has often been criticised by other Premiership managers for not fielding many English players, particularly in the Champions League. West Ham United's former manager Alan Pardew said that Arsenal's Champions League success was "not necessarily a triumph for British football". Wenger saw the issue of nationality as irrelevant: "When you represent a club it's about values and qualities, not about passports.". Other pundits, including Trevor Brooking, the FA's Director of Football Development, defended Wenger; Brooking noted that a lack of English players in one of England's most successful clubs was more of a reflection of the talent pool in England rather than Wenger himself.
On November 5, 2006, Wenger was involved in a touchline bust-up with Alan Pardew in a Premier League match. After Marlon Harewood put West Ham ahead in the 89th minute, Pardew pumped his fist towards the Arsenal bench and ran into the Arsenal technical area to celebrate the goal. Wenger took exception to the behavior, and pushing and shoving ensued. Wenger refused to shake Pardew's hand at the end of the match. Skipping post-match interviews, he headed straight for the team coach. He subsequently stated that he regretted reacting to the 'provocation' and that he accepted Alan Pardew's apology but he did not explicitly make his own apology |
