BASKET CASE ... how Arsene could defy his
ban
ARSENE WENGER is sizing up a laundry basket after being
handed his first-ever touchline ban. The Arsenal boss joked he
could be smuggled into the Emirates for the Champions League clash
against Steaua Bucharest on December 12 after a UEFA
ban.
It was alleged that ex-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho used a laundry
basket to get into the Stamford Bridge dressing room before a
Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich in 2005. Like
Mourinho, Wenger has been barred from the dug-out and dressing room
after clashing with the officials in the 3-1 loss to Seville on
Wednesday. Wenger said: We will first try to improve the size of
our laundry basket.
I was surprised first of all that I was sent off for what I said.
Its like if the speed limit is 60mph, sometimes you are not
caught driveing 70mph and sometimes you are caught when you drive
61. I drove 60-and-a-half mph.
Im not saying Im an angel but Ive done much worse than that.
At the end of the day I know what Ive done. I know I havent done
a lot but I wont appeal. Im like everybody. There are periods
when I am nervous and explode a bit quicker but, overall, I try to
control it.
Sits in the stands
I said to the officials it was naive to give Daniel Alves time to
waste that time. I said I bet with you he will sprint in two
minutes. It was less than two minutes. Wenger is unlikely to be
hiding inside any baskets for the final Champions League group game
but he will easily get round the ruling as he sits in the
stands.
He said: You can always communicate with the bench. You know, it
is a very artificial rule. If I talk to the guy next to me he can
communicate with the bench. The ban could be extended in a
disciplinary hearing on December 13 the day after the Steaua
clash.
The Arsenal boss was sent from the technical area in Seville for
arguing with Belgian ref Eric Braamhaar. But he ignored the fourth
officials orders to go to the stands and watched from the tunnel.
Yesterday, Wenger opened a sports site in Islington with local
youngsters on behalf of Barclays Spaces for Sports.
And he revealed that Cesc Fabregas is out of tomorrows trip to
Aston Villa and Wednesdays game at Newcastle after picking up a
hamstring injury in Seville. Wenger said: We are pessimistic for
him. He has no chance for next week.