O'Neill doesn't like Arsenal's physical side

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Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
01 Mar	3:00 PM	P	Aston Villa (H)	1	1	Draw

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill was critical of Arsenal's physical side, saying that there were times during games when Arsenal gave as good as they got.

I'd certainly like to see a more physical and intimidating Arsenal, but as long as it's within the rules and boundaries of the game, as Wenger would instruct his team to.

O'Neill said: "While Arsenal are a very good side, they can't just corner the market on being the only team which has to resist a challenge.

"They put in a few challenges themselves, so I don't agree with what Arsène Wenger said.

"I thought there was a challenge which [Mathieu] Flamini made which was pretty harsh and he has gone in two-footed off the ground and he got away with it. Nobody mentions it because nothing happened.

"If I was to look at Sky Sports News after he (Wenger) had said that they are the most fouled team, and then the stats are flashed up which say they are 12th - he is a brilliant manager but a bad mathematician.

"Arsenal have not got to the position they are in without a great team spirit and they do keep going.

"I think they have scored a lot of goals in the last 15-20 minutes of a game, if you are interested in that kind of statistics.

"But I think against us, they were lucky."

User Comments

Joe

Posted on 31 Mar, 2008 at 07:04 PM - Reply

Arsenal are useless, fair play to O'Neil who realises that Arsenal is a team full of French ponces

Joe

Posted on 31 Mar, 2008 at 07:04 PM - Reply

Arsenal are useless, fair play to O'Neil who realises that Arsenal is a team full of French ponces

Beatrice Kirk

Posted on 26 Mar, 2008 at 03:50 AM - Reply

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abdi nassser

Posted on 4 Mar, 2008 at 05:20 AM - Reply

funny when someone else is doing someone else work we scored both goals and o nille is angry, consider yourself lucky, come next season wenger can teach you some few game plan rather than jump up and down like a pre school kid at the touch line cup is for aresnal both whether you like it or not

john quinn

Posted on 3 Mar, 2008 at 10:56 PM - Reply

martin oneill is a nice man .... however i would sooner take maths lessons from Arsene Wenger than from him with respect.......10 games to go and the title will be ours come on Arsenal lets finish the season off in style

henry71

Posted on 3 Mar, 2008 at 10:22 PM - Reply

oneill should remember they didnt score against arsenal.they are the ones lucky.The own goal by senderos was a shock for them so it affected them.

Sam - Gunner for life!!

Posted on 3 Mar, 2008 at 09:22 PM - Reply

HAHA..pretty funny. It seems like the problem here is not a math problem is actaully READING problem.
Maybe O'Neal calcualtes the fouls himslef and doesn't do his job thats why they loose but wenger does his job pretty well and then reads the stats!!

Calum Garland

Posted on 3 Mar, 2008 at 08:14 PM - Reply

I think he's just saying that cause he's angry about it

Michael

Posted on 3 Mar, 2008 at 08:05 PM - Reply

Yeah they were lucky. We put a goal in ourselves, not the other way around. If Senderos doesn't have another mental lapse we get the points. Villa didn't score anything as much as they pushed. They are lucky to get out of there with the draw. As for the fouls, all teams are somewhat physical in the Prem. O'Neill needs to get it right.

Patty Alphonse in Belgium ( nonceveu)

Posted on 3 Mar, 2008 at 07:56 PM - Reply

Yes we are the best and I encourrage our young players to have that team spirits and to keep it high. They should also focus on scoring goals, here I mean that Arsenal loose so many goals, they should think and learn on finishing. That is the only problem that we have. You cant imagine how if feel when we lost or draw, crazy, nervous, like somebody who can comit suicide. So please, please finish well and let us enjoy your best football.

Patty Alphonse in Belgium ( nonceveu)

Posted on 3 Mar, 2008 at 07:53 PM - Reply

Yes we are the best and I encourrage our young players to have that team spirits and to keep it high. They should also focus on scoring goals, here I mean that Arsenal loose so many goals, they should think and learn on finishing. That is the only problem that we have. You cant imagine how if feel when we lost or draw, crazy, nervous, like somebody who can comit suicide. So please, please finish well and let us enjoy your best football.

Patty Alphonse in Belgium ( nonceveu)

Posted on 3 Mar, 2008 at 07:44 PM - Reply

Yes we are the best and I encourrage our young players to have that team spirits and to keep it high. They should also focus on scoring goals, here I mean that Arsenal loose so many goals, they should think and learn on finishing. That is the only problem that we have. You cant imagine how if feel when we lost or draw, crazy, nervous, like somebody who can comit suicide. So please, please finish well and let us enjoy your best football.

javz

Posted on 3 Mar, 2008 at 07:18 PM - Reply

arsenal were lucky?he needs to watch games properly....villa were lucky...the 2 goals were scored by ARSENAL PLAYERS!!so they are lucky because senderos...who was unlucky,put it in his own net........

watch when toure plays against villa...he will clear ANY situation..

Wandera charles in uganda!

Posted on 3 Mar, 2008 at 05:34 PM - Reply

O'neil must be naive!Did Villa score any goal that you deem arsenal lucky?An own goal is actualy luck for Aston villa!O'neil should go to a nursery school to learn simple mathematics himself.

Winston Muhindo

Posted on 3 Mar, 2008 at 04:00 PM - Reply

maths i think O'Neil should go back 2 school. because arsenal are top of the league. and we are pround of then
ArsenalforEva

Goons_with_Guns

Posted on 3 Mar, 2008 at 02:28 PM - Reply

We should get more of this kind of rant from opposing managers, players and their fans: it's about time.

Sue

Posted on 3 Mar, 2008 at 02:23 PM - Reply

O'Neil up Fergies arse

bill

Posted on 3 Mar, 2008 at 01:35 PM - Reply

Villas' coach is obviously a big fool. He can say whatever he wants to say, but should ask even Manchester that you have to carry some luck, for a team beat even a shamble Arsenal team.

Neal

Posted on 3 Mar, 2008 at 01:21 PM - Reply

I don't know where Martin got those stats from. I saw a table of fouls from the last decade and Arsenal were 3rd.

Priest

Posted on 3 Mar, 2008 at 01:17 PM - Reply

Wenger's a bad mathematician? Presumably he looked at the table for the most fouled team and Arsenal were top. Where's the maths in that?

Mat

Posted on 3 Mar, 2008 at 01:13 PM - Reply

Villa did OK but still needed an own goal from an out of sorts Arsenal to get a point so not sure what O'Neill means by lucky.

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