Arsenal´s Wenger turns his fire on Stoke ´cowards´

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger launched a passionate defence of his players and accused two opponents of being “cowardly” in deliberately injuring Theo Walcott and Emmanuel Adebayor.

Both forwards were injured during Saturday's 2-1 Premier League defeat at Stoke City and will therefore miss Wednesday's Champions League visit of Fenerbahce to the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners had been accused of lacking bravery at the Britannia Stadium, where the home side scored twice from moves involving the long-throws of Republic of Ireland international Rory Delap.

The Frenchman was adamant Delap had also been guilty of deliberately causing Walcott's shoulder injury, which also makes him a doubt for Saturday's home league game with Manchester United.

And he was equally certain Stoke's Ryan Shawcross had been just as reckless in a challenge on Adebayor, who is also not expected to be fit in time to face the English and European champions.

“I am confident we have the needed strengths and quality and that we are united as a club and a team,” Wenger told reporters at Arsenal's training ground here Tuesday. “That will come out in the end.”

There has been a perception for several seasons that Arsenal, for all their skill, are a team that can be 'got at' by opponents prepared to indulge in a physical approach.

But a defiant Wenger insisted: “I read that my team were not brave. I can say that they are brave and for me, you need to have more courage to play football when you know that someone is tackling you from behind without any intention to play the ball.

“The only intention is to hurt you and I can show some tackles where I can prove what I say. The one who is tackling is not the brave one. For me the brave one is the player who is trying to play football.”

Asked if Stoke had been over-physical Wenger added: “Yes. Of course it happened at the weekend.

“Do you think Delap tried to play the ball when he tackled Walcott? Or that Shawcross tried to play the ball when he tackled Adebayor off the pitch? All the players have been injured deliberately.

“I am not ready to listen to things that are completely untrue and make people look brave who are cowards, for me.”

Wenger, who has only 14 fit regulars available for Wednesday's match, was also convinced Stoke had not been the first side to use excessively physical tactics against Arsenal, with Eduardo having suffered a broken leg against Birmingham last season and Tomas Rosicky absent since January.

“Do you want me to tell you the players we have lost here? (Abu) Diaby, deliberate foul from behind, Rosicky, deliberate foul, Eduardo, deliberate foul. Now we lose Walcott, deliberate foul, we have lost (Bacary) Sagna deliberate foul on him.

“There is only one intention when he is tackled and that is the ankle.

“And you want me on top of that to sit here and say yes, sorry we are not brave?”

Arsenal have dropped six points behind leaders Chelsea having also allowed Tottenham to come back from 4-2 down to take a point a week ago.

Wenger added: “It is not the bravery of my players. That's what I want to re-install and I do not want that to be questioned.

“The problem this season is that we have not been efficient in some games but we had just had a run of seven games unbeaten and I still think on Saturday we had a little hangover from a huge disappointment we had against Tottenham.

“I do not want to say we have no responsibilities in our defeats but I do not accept that the newspapers say my players are cowards and not brave, especially from people whom I don't rate as brave.”

Wenger has no such worries as far as the Champions League is concerned as Arsenal lead Group G and will qualify with a win over Fenerbahce should Dynamo Kiev beat Porto.

That would allow him to rotate his squad for the remaining group games and Wenger said: “I believe that one you qualify in the Champions League you can be completely focused and if needed, rest some players.”