Apr 3 2010, 09:29 AM
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Cesc Fabregas' injury was the result of a kick on his leg and is therefore no reflection on Arsenal's medical team.
That was Arsène Wenger's considered opinion as the fall-out from the midweek draw with Barcelona continued at his pre-match press conference on Friday.
Fabregas has been ruled out of the rest of the domestic season after suffering a crack in his fibula when he was brought down by Carles Puyol. The Arsenal captain picked himself up to equalise from the spot but he spent the rest of that pulsating 2-2 draw as a passenger.
Arsenal’s worst fears were confirmed on Thursday and questions have been raised ever since about how avoidable Fabregas' injury was and whether he should have played against his former club. Wenger put the record straight when he faced reporters at the training ground.
"You always question that - the training, the pitches - but I believe as well for example we are kicked a lot and the consequence of Cesc's first problem was a kick at Birmingham," he said.
"It was a bad tackle and then the muscular problems are not down to the physical game, it's down to something that's not right or [because] we play tired players. We have not found the solution, if we had found the solution we would have rectified it.
"I'm tempted to say 'no' [Fabregas would not have fractured his leg if he had not been kicked at Birmingham] because the inflammation was certainly there on the bone but there was no medical reason to stop him from playing. It was bruised and inflamed and maybe it gave away, yes."
Arsenal have had more than their fair share of injuries this season and some diagnoses - including Fabregas' - require X-rays or MRI scans. However, Wenger knows that not every knock can be checked so thoroughly and he trusts his players if they declare themselves fit to play.
"You cannot make [an MRI scan] every time... on the MRI scan you do not see more. You have a special bone scan that you can make but you cannot do that every time a guy gets a kick because it is endless.
"We got two independent bodies and doctors who looked at the X-ray. They do not work at the Club and we have the report from them. If they had felt it needed a deeper investigation they would have told us. That was not at all their statement and you have to accept as well that it can happen in football.
"No [I shouldn't have been firmer with Cesc] because at the end of the day my job is not to push the players when they are injured to play but it is not to stop them playing when they feel they can play. You have, as well, a responsibility in this job.
"If you stop every time a player who says 'no I am fit to play' and he has that influence in the team the players will think he has become completely mad. It's unbelievable [that Cesc played on after the injury] but he's a tough boy."
That was Arsène Wenger's considered opinion as the fall-out from the midweek draw with Barcelona continued at his pre-match press conference on Friday.
Fabregas has been ruled out of the rest of the domestic season after suffering a crack in his fibula when he was brought down by Carles Puyol. The Arsenal captain picked himself up to equalise from the spot but he spent the rest of that pulsating 2-2 draw as a passenger.
Arsenal’s worst fears were confirmed on Thursday and questions have been raised ever since about how avoidable Fabregas' injury was and whether he should have played against his former club. Wenger put the record straight when he faced reporters at the training ground.
"You always question that - the training, the pitches - but I believe as well for example we are kicked a lot and the consequence of Cesc's first problem was a kick at Birmingham," he said.
"It was a bad tackle and then the muscular problems are not down to the physical game, it's down to something that's not right or [because] we play tired players. We have not found the solution, if we had found the solution we would have rectified it.
"I'm tempted to say 'no' [Fabregas would not have fractured his leg if he had not been kicked at Birmingham] because the inflammation was certainly there on the bone but there was no medical reason to stop him from playing. It was bruised and inflamed and maybe it gave away, yes."
Arsenal have had more than their fair share of injuries this season and some diagnoses - including Fabregas' - require X-rays or MRI scans. However, Wenger knows that not every knock can be checked so thoroughly and he trusts his players if they declare themselves fit to play.
"You cannot make [an MRI scan] every time... on the MRI scan you do not see more. You have a special bone scan that you can make but you cannot do that every time a guy gets a kick because it is endless.
"We got two independent bodies and doctors who looked at the X-ray. They do not work at the Club and we have the report from them. If they had felt it needed a deeper investigation they would have told us. That was not at all their statement and you have to accept as well that it can happen in football.
"No [I shouldn't have been firmer with Cesc] because at the end of the day my job is not to push the players when they are injured to play but it is not to stop them playing when they feel they can play. You have, as well, a responsibility in this job.
"If you stop every time a player who says 'no I am fit to play' and he has that influence in the team the players will think he has become completely mad. It's unbelievable [that Cesc played on after the injury] but he's a tough boy."
Wenger - I've not cost Gallas his World Cup
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Arsène Wenger remains comfortable with his decision to start William Gallas against Barcelona on Wednesday, even though he admits it turned out to be a mistake.
The appearance of the French defender in midweek was a surprise. The 32-year-old was not expected back after missing the previous eight games with a calf problem.
However he did not complete the first half.
Gallas pulled up just before the break with a recurrence of the problem and was replaced by Denilson just before the whistle. In his television press conference on Friday, Wenger said: “It was a gamble which did not pay off and was a mistake.”
The decision drew criticism from French manager Raymond Domenech, who requires the services of Gallas in South Africa this summer. However, despite the outcome, Wenger believes he did all the research he could.
"I don't think it will cost him his World Cup,” said the Arsenal manager. “He declared himself fit and I had [good] reports from the rehabilitation centre where he worked for ten days. He had four days training with the team too.
“Maybe we should have taken some more time but he was jumping, running up and down the stairs in France. He had very hard sessions.
"Gallas is 32, soon 33. You ask a player of that experience do you feel ready to play, have you worked hard enough, do you feel ready to go into this game - when they say yes you have to believe them.
“I didn't speak to [Domenech] after the game. But we have to first take care of the interests of Arsenal. The French national team is important but Arsenal are as well and he is paid by the Club - not the French national team. We have to use the players when they declare themselves fit."
The appearance of the French defender in midweek was a surprise. The 32-year-old was not expected back after missing the previous eight games with a calf problem.
However he did not complete the first half.
Gallas pulled up just before the break with a recurrence of the problem and was replaced by Denilson just before the whistle. In his television press conference on Friday, Wenger said: “It was a gamble which did not pay off and was a mistake.”
The decision drew criticism from French manager Raymond Domenech, who requires the services of Gallas in South Africa this summer. However, despite the outcome, Wenger believes he did all the research he could.
"I don't think it will cost him his World Cup,” said the Arsenal manager. “He declared himself fit and I had [good] reports from the rehabilitation centre where he worked for ten days. He had four days training with the team too.
“Maybe we should have taken some more time but he was jumping, running up and down the stairs in France. He had very hard sessions.
"Gallas is 32, soon 33. You ask a player of that experience do you feel ready to play, have you worked hard enough, do you feel ready to go into this game - when they say yes you have to believe them.
“I didn't speak to [Domenech] after the game. But we have to first take care of the interests of Arsenal. The French national team is important but Arsenal are as well and he is paid by the Club - not the French national team. We have to use the players when they declare themselves fit."
Wenger - Injury claim shows Arshavin's nature
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Arsène Wenger believes Andrey Arshavin's pessimistic statement about his injury was down to the midfielder's personality.
The 28-year-old had been quoted in a Russian newspaper as stating the worst case scenario is that he would miss the rest of this season after sustaining a calf strain against Barcelona on Wednesday night.
However, Wenger rejected that claim at his pre-Wolves press conference on Friday afternoon.
Speaking later in the day, he explained why Arshavin might have made such a statement.
"It's a bit his character," said the manager. "He is a bit more pessimistic. He is sometimes like that - pessimistic in his statements. But on a daily basis he is a tough boy. He played with stitches, so I am not as pessimistic as he is."
"He speaks his mind but he's not a negative person."
The 28-year-old had been quoted in a Russian newspaper as stating the worst case scenario is that he would miss the rest of this season after sustaining a calf strain against Barcelona on Wednesday night.
However, Wenger rejected that claim at his pre-Wolves press conference on Friday afternoon.
Speaking later in the day, he explained why Arshavin might have made such a statement.
"It's a bit his character," said the manager. "He is a bit more pessimistic. He is sometimes like that - pessimistic in his statements. But on a daily basis he is a tough boy. He played with stitches, so I am not as pessimistic as he is."
"He speaks his mind but he's not a negative person."
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