Arsene Wenger has hit out at The
Football League's decision to look into the viability of bringing
in penalty shoot-outs to settle drawn games.
A number of managers lower down the football pyramid have voiced
their concerns over the decision, but The Football League have
still commissioned a feasibility study.
The move is unlikely to cause Wenger any concern, unless Arsenal
suffer relegation, but he has experienced the system while in Japan
and does not believe it is positive for the game.
"I'm quite open to discuss any idea that would bring any
spectacular action and more offensive attitudes into our game, but
I'm not convinced by this one for two reasons," Wenger told Arsenal
TV Online.
"Firstly, people who are cautious and defensive will say `let's
wait for the penalties' and `let's not take a risk'.
"The second reason I say is that I was playing with this system in
Japan, and it was horrible when you had battled for two hours and
you lost a game on a penalty shoot-out that you didn't deserve to
lose, and three days later you have another game where you have
even more chance to lose because you have already played for two
hours three days before.
"It doesn't change the attitude of a manager who is defensive. It
reinforces it sometimes."
Wigan manager Paul Jewell is not a fan, as he commented: "It is a
silly rule because it will only promote negative football.
"You can work really hard, play really well and get a draw. That
could now be taken off you.
"Why don't we have penalties before kick-off, then go
home?"
