Nasri a diver – Redknapp

(GSM) – Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has accused Arsenal’s Samir Nasri of diving to win his side’s first penalty in the Gunners’ 4-1 win at White Hart Lane.

The Frenchman fell down under pressure from Spurs defender Sebastian Bassong and was awarded a penalty in what was the turning point of Arsenal’s 4-1 victory.

Nasri scored the penalty before he scored a second spot-kick – after Marouane Chamakh went down from a challenge from Steven Caulker – before Andrey Arshavin completed the scoring in a fine extra-time performance from the Gunners.

Redknapp said: “I thought the first penalty was harsh. I thought Nasri dived.

“The second was blatant. It was Caulker’s first appearance anywhere near this level and was a good experience for him.”

Meanwhile Bassong also accused Nasri of falling down ‘too easily’ saying: “He went down too easily, I didn’t think it was a penalty.

“He told me afterwards that I barely touched him.

“It leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I touched Nasri’s chest but I did not grab him. I have seen the video and from my point of view it was not a penalty.”

Redknapp believed extra-time was too much for his young squad to handle.

“Once we got to extra-time, four of my players were cramped up and out on their feet, I knew it was going to be a difficult half-hour,” he said.

“I was picking the players I needed to play – I can’t keep playing the same people, you end up killing them off in the end.

“It was a new experience for guys like Kyle Naughton, and Sandro looked all right, he gets around the pitch. I think he is going to be a good player.

“I thought it was going to be tough when I saw their team as they looked a bit stronger than us.”