Arsene Wenger has criticised Manchester City boss Mark Hughes for defending Emmanuel Adebayor’s alleged stamp on Arsenal’s Robin van Persie. Hughes asked for the Togo striker to be “cut a bit of slack” after the incident during City’s 4-2 win over Arsenal.
But the Gunners boss retorted: “You ask 100 people, 99 will say it’s very bad and the hundredth will be Mark Hughes.”
The Football Association have charged Adebayor with violent conduct and City must respond by 1800 BST on Wednesday.
In the lead-up to the incident Adebayor had managed to avoid Van Persie’s sliding tackle before his right boot caught the Dutchman in the face, leaving him needing treatment for a cut.
606: DEBATE
“**(http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A57145755)*”
ChickenAKACockerel
Dutchman Van Persie later claimed it had been a deliberate stamp by his former team-mate.
Match referee Mark Clattenburg confirmed he would have sent the former Arsenal player off for the challenge had he seen it clearly.
Meanwhile, recalling the challenge, Wenger said: “I watched it when I got home and it looked very bad.”
Adebayor is facing a three-match ban, while he also faces a charge of improper conduct for running the length of the pitch to celebrate in front of Arsenal’s travelling fans after scoring in the same game.
After scoring 30 goals in the 2007-08 season for Arsenal, Adebayor struggled with injuries in the last campaign and incurred the wrath of some Arsenal fans, who felt the striker lacked commitment.
Having spent three-and-a-half years with the Gunners the Togo international moved on to Eastlands in the summer in a £25m deal.
“I was surprised there was so much animosity in his attitude towards Arsenal. In a few years I think he will realise just how good Arsenal were for him,” said Wenger.
"I played football and I know exactly, in a fraction of a second, when you know your body well, where you leave your foot in or you pull out.
“You know exactly at that fraction, you can injure somebody or you cannot injure somebody and you ease off or you leave your foot in.”
Wenger has clashed with Hughes in the past when the former Manchester United striker was in charge of Blackburn Rovers.
Following a 1-1 draw between Arsenal and Blackburn in 2007 Wenger accused Blackburn of waging “violence” against his side, a comment Hughes dismissed.*