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Wenger's greatest spats

Author: Rose Young
Date: 07/12/2009
Football betting

Arsene Wenger's childish refusal to shake Mark Hughes' hand following Arsenal's 3-0 Carling Cup quarter-final defeat against Manchester City last Wednesday smacks of the behaviour of a man under pressure.

The Gunners, who last won a piece of silverware when they beat Manchester United on penalties in the 2005 FA Cup final, continue to show their tantalising quality on the pitch in the Premier League.

The likes of Cesc Fabregas, Andrey Arshavin and Samir Nasri pull the strings, but their inability to beat their nearest rivals is placing a burgeoning weight on the Frenchman's shoulders.

Wenger has witnessed his side lose to the Red Devils, Chelsea and Hughes' City in the league already this season and their second loss against a team that now possess his former players Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor didn't go down well with the fiery and grumpy 60-year-old.

Despite this, since becoming Arsenal manager in 1996, he has entertained neutral fans on British soil for years with mood swings, strops and spats.

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We will take a look at some of his more illustrious and heated confrontations that have landed him in hot water.

Wenger v Alan Pardew, 2006 - Arsenal were moments away from claiming a goalless draw at Upton Park in November 2006 until a late Marlon Harewood effort rankled the bemused tactician.

Pardew, a man under pressure himself, celebrated like his side had won the league, irked Wenger significantly enough to bring out the Frenchman's barrel-chest as he went toe-to-toe on the touchline with his counterpart.

For his misdemeanour, the FA fined Wenger £10,000 for his aggressive behaviour.

Wenger v Martin Taylor, 2008 - The Gunners travelled to Birmingham City for a Premier League match in February and inside the opening minutes, the Blues' tough and uncompromising defender Martin Taylor launched himself into a challenge with Croatia striker Eduardo.

Taylor missed the ball but certainly didn't miss his the unfortunate striker's leg. A horrific leg break and ankle dislocation followed and Wenger, perhaps more understandably so, let loose.

He said: "I think this guy should never play football again. What's he doing on the pitch?

"I've gone along with the idea for a long time that to stop Arsenal, you have to kick Arsenal. I knew that was coming for a long time now."

Wenger v Sir Alex Ferguson, 2004 - With Wenger's all-conquering outfit facing a stern challenge to face their nearest rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford, their proud 49-game unbeaten run in the Premier League was to face its stiffest threat.

They lost 2-0, in acrimonious circumstances, it must be said.

United opened the scoring following a hotly disputed penalty and a late Wayne Rooney effort saw the steam come out of Wenger's ears.

What happened next would take many back to their old school days when food fights were all the rage.

The tunnel at Old Trafford witnessed the birth of the 'battle of the buffet' and 'pizzagate'.

This after Ferguson and Wenger clashed and a slice of pizza was reportedly splattered all over the Scots face, according to former Arsenal left-back Ashley Cole.

In his autobiography, he said: "This slice of pizza came flying over my head and hit Fergie straight in the mush."

Fergie responded by saying: "What the Arsenal players did was the worst I have witnessed in sport.

"In the tunnel Wenger was criticising my players, calling them cheats, so I told him to leave them alone and behave himself. He ran at me with hands raised saying 'what do you want to do about it?'."

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