CHEAT ROW ... Arsenal's Emmanuel Eboue was booked
for this deliberate handball against Wigan
Wenger said: "Of course we want to stamp out cheating
in the game. It is not necessarily cheating sometimes, it
[handball] can be a reflex as well.
"I do not encourage cheating and we all have to fight
against it, but in this particular situation it can be a reflex as
well.
"When the player goes down sometimes it is not always
because he wants to cheat. "It can be a foul and he makes a bit
more of it, but the personality I feel in England that the
personality of the player who does it is more important than the
importance of the foul and the cheating.
"I mean some players get away with things and other
don't." This was a symbolic match for Eboue as he was jeered by his
own supporters in the fixture last season.
On this occasion he was cheered off when substituted in
the 73rd minute, confirming his cult-hero status. It was a typical
performance from the Ivory Coast international as he was productive
— he deflected Eduardo's shot in for the third goal — but raised
eyebrows with his celebrations.
Wenger, when asked about the turnaround in the fans'
view of Eboue, added: "I believe Eboue did what you have to do in
our job, which is to shut up, play and let everyone else talk while
he produces quality performances.
"His is a job for strong people, and you can respond
mentally. The supporters are behind him again as he plays well and
he plays with the right spirit. "He is sensitive and a bit and an
extrovert, but he's a creative player."
Thomas Vermaelen scored the first two goals — a header
from a corner and a delightful curling effort. He now has four
goals since arriving from Ajax.
And Wenger joked: "Let's be honest for once. I thought
he could adapt quickly but maybe not as quickly as that!"
Cesc Fabregas wrapped up the scoring in stoppage time.
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez was furious with his side's display. He
stormed: "We were very poor in our performance. "That was not our
style at all. We did not get anywhere near the Arsenal players in
the first half.
"Our starting position was wrong and there was a lack
of belief. We are not normally a defensive side, but we had a slow
start and that was the reason for our performance.
"I cannot not take any positives from the performance —
or the lack of it."