Did the press see it the same way as Wenger?

[Paul Spencer]

This is how the Sunday press reported Saturday's game.

To avoid bias, every single quote that I could find that makes specific reference to the challenges by both sides has been included:


Simon Hart (The Telegraph):

“Arsenal also lost Robin van Persie to a red card shown by referee Rob Styles for a disgraceful follow-through on Stoke goalkeeper Tomas Sorensen ... Arsene Wenger protested later that it should only have been a yellow card. Not many agreed.”

“Having insisted that his side were “united”, “passionate” and ready to fight for the cause, Arsenal delivered none of the above. Adebayor, who had called for “winning mentality” last week, was one of the most guilty, showing little apparent interest until he fell awkwardly on his ankle in the second half and had to be replaced.”

“Stoke were sharper physically,” admitted Wenger


Stuart Barnes (The Observer):

“The Arsenal manager admitted: “Stoke deserved it. “They fought for every ball, were well organised and were able to wait for the set pieces.”

“The frustration was too much for Van Persie, who charged in after Sorensen fielded the ball, raising a foot and barging him to the ground. Referee Rob Styles had little option but to produce the red card.”


Dave Armitage (The Star)

“They were well and truly beaten by a side which was absolutely driven and motivated and the fact that Wenger’s side finished with nine men cannot be offered as an excuse.”

“Emmanuel Adebayor limped off, complaining bitterly about a Ryan Shawcross challenge.  He seemed to have forgotten his booking for an assault on Shawcross just before half-time.”

“Bacary Sagna seemed to fall awkwardly under a challenge from Rory Delap and Theo Walcott was unfortunate to go over on his shoulder.”

“After the match, Arsenal’s sulking stars didn’t want to know, which was perhaps the most apt reflection on their performance during the 90 minutes.”

“They (Arsenal) weren’t kicked or bullied out of this. You can’t help thinking  they’d lost it before they even stepped on to the pitch.”


John Aizelwood (The Times)

“Alas for the visitors (Arsenal) and their thunder-faced manager, they were at their most frustratingly lily-livered, for all their seeming brawn”.

“Thomas Sorensen teasingly dallied when picking up the ball and Van Persie took it upon himself to lunge at the goalkeeper, elbow and studs first. Rob Styles, the referee, took the only possible option and the foolish Dutchman departed.”


Steve Lillis (News of the World)

“A bad day ended in disgrace for the swanky Londoners when sub Robin van Persie went potty in the Potteries after being on just 11 minutes and was sent off for a nasty challenge on Stoke keeper Thomas Sorensen.”

“Awful Arsenal lacked bottle, were out-fought and what little football there was came from Stoke.”

“Arsenal snatched an injury-time consolation they never deserved — when ... Walcott was receiving treatment after a foul by Delap.”


Janine Self (The Sun):

“Gunners boss Arsene Wenger was gracious enough to admit his players could not handle Stoke’s very simple but very effective tactics. “It was a typical, traditional English game with a lot of fight and commitment on one side and, at the end of the day, Stoke deserved to win.”


Matthew Dunn (The Daily Mail):

“But despite packing his side with as many muscles as he could muster, Wenger watched them (Arsenal) play like a bunch of shrimps.”

“Theo Walcott was taken off ... with a shoulder injury after an unnecessary trip by Delap.”

“ I have witnessed Arsenal make a much better fist of things, despite losing scraps to Bolton, Blackburn, Sheffield United and Manchester City. Then, Wenger has done anything but shut up at press conferences, full of bitterness and stoic defence of his bullied stars. So it was strange Wenger seemed reluctant to stand as loyally in his players’ corner. Perhaps the powder was being kept dry on that fiercer rhetoric ready for the training ground.”


Alan Nixon (Sunday People):

“Stoke went into every tackle with 100 per cent commitment, but also showed clever touches and loved the sight of the Gunners being wound up. Adebayor was booked for a late tackle on Ryan Shawcross ...”

“Adebayor and Bacary Sagna needed treatment at the same time after solid challenges - a scene that summed up the 'soft' side of their nature.”

“Sagna immediately limped off and Adebayor, caught on the ankle by Shawcross, fell over soon after and could not wait to join him. There were complaints to ref Rob Styles, but there was nothing illegal in the level of Stoke's approach.”

“Theo Walcott went off on a stretcher with his shoulder in a sling after he fell heavily when Delap fouled him.”

“Styles had no choice but to send the sulky sub off and he will have a three game ban to consider his foolishness.”

“This was one of those days when the doubts about Arsenal's bottle resurfaced. There was a total lack of guts, knowledge, experience and character about this display.”


Guy Hodgson (The Independent):

“Arsenal ... meekly succumbed to Stoke City.”


cheers
Paul

[ronvelig]

Good work

[redblue]

Interesting reading.

[stokieg]

Wonder how many wil change there mind in the coming weeks

[eddyscfc]

There was an article in The London Paper yesterday by Paul Butler totally slating Wenger, the headline was " Poor Old Wenger" ... it was a great read

[Strange Boy]

"Rob Styles, the referee, took the only possible option and the foolish Dutchman departed.”

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[MarkWolstanton]

Good work Paul.

You should forward this summary to the Drive time presenters at Whitevanmansport radio.

[Smudge_SCFC]

Nice one Paul - good to see you back on the MB mate.

[serpico]

Good work

[wardrobe monster]

Thats excellent work, and obviously Wenger read the same papers and realised his position is under threat.

Nice one, ta.

[knowles]

Thanks for that Paul- top work

[Oatcake Andy]

Take a look at this match report from Gooner Report. Even the fans Arsenal fans at the time agreed we played a fair match and deserved to win.

[swampySCFC]

That prick from the express said.

We celebrate kids who run 30 yards and clatter people instead of those that play football.

What a fucking dick he is

[OldStokie]

Welcome back, Paul. Great to see you on here. Your common sense has been sorely missed: they've had to put up with my inane drivel instead.

Those quotes were perhaps the reason why Wenger lost it completely. He doesn't like it up him.

Mick.

[pretzel]

Sorry if it's been posted elsewhere but I can't open every Wenger thread, so thought I'd post this link on the most recently openened one.

Paul Parker on Wenger' s outburst