Wenger cool on Evra insults

Arsene Wenger has refused to wade into a war of words with Manchester United’s Patrice Evra ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Old Trafford on Monday.

Defender Evra labelled Arsenal a ‘training centre’ and a club in ‘crisis’ in an interview with television channel Canal+, but the words failed to get a significant rise out of Gunners manager Arsene Wenger in a press conference on Friday.

“He gave you some good stuff to make it all hot before the game,” Wenger said ahead of the clash between the top two in the English Premier League.

“We are guided by the way we want to play football and not by the statements of anybody who plays against us.”

“Personally, I believe if you are a big player you always respect your opponent and that is what we try to do.”

When asked if Evra was being disrespectful, Wenger was again reserved: “I leave that judgment to you. We do not want to go into any unneeded talking before a game like that,” he said.

“We want to focus on the way we want to play and ignore any provocation before a game. We are motivated by the desire to win the game and by the quality of the football we want to play.”