Arsenal players are targeted! Coyle rejects claims
The claim of Arsenal boss has been dismissed by Owen Coyle, the Bolton manager, the players in Arsenal are targeted by the opponents of the Premier League.
Arsene Wenger fumed at the leg-breaking challenge of Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross on Aaron Ramsey this weekend. Wenger had earlier also seen Abou Diaby and Eduardo suffer the same injuries. However, Coyle had rejected the suggestions that Arsenal are specifically given over-the-top treatment by rivals.
He said, “They are special players, no doubt about that, but there is no way in the world that anyone would go out to intentionally hurt or maim any player… Ramsey is a terrific talent and is going to be a top player but there’s no way that was intentional to hurt him.”
He added that there was difference between competitiveness and recklessness.
Coyle said further, “If you’re not motivated to go out there and be aggressive to begin with, to earn the right to play, then you’re going to be run over the top of and made to look foolish… We all take pride in trying to make our players competitive, to go and earn the right, as we say in football, but there’s no way you’d say ‘Go and smash this and that’.”
In January Coyle complaint over a William Gallas challenge on Mark Davies, the Bolton midfielder. He later on admitted that he saw things a bit differently after a few days’ reflection.
When I see Shawcross piling over the touchline to do a ManU player just as he did Arsenal’s Adebayor last season– then I will believe Owen Coyle. But he does not and he won’t be breaking any ManU legs soon! The fact is- all the cowardly bullying teams avoid confrontation when they play Manure– not cos they are afraid of getting some back but because their Manager is frightened of offending SAF!! Managers, like our lionhearted refs, do what he wants. The Press are afeared and so are the Pundits, Papers and TV. It is pathetic to watch. Souness, Paddy Barclay, Martin Samuel and the younger Custis apart- there isn’t a man amongst them and the sound of them dragging their stomachs across the floor as they lick arse is quite revolting. Only in Europe have Arsenal a chance (no they can’t play Pool with Uncle Kuyt in charge). The Prem is sown up this year I suspect. Keep watching for Ref mistakes in ManUs favour and to Arsenal’s chagrin. Did you hear in the Media the sound of fury over Dowd’s gaffe this last weekend? Deafening wasn’t it? Yes, glossed-over and disgusting.