Arsene
Wenger does not regret his touchline push on Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho in
Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge.
The Frenchman entered the opposing manager’s technical area after a foul by
Gary Cahill on Alexis Sanchez and pushed Mourinho away during an angry
exchange of words.
Eden Hazard’s penalty and Diego Costa’s strike sealed victory for the hosts,
who stayed three points clear at the top of the Premier League, and the two
managers refused to shake hands at the final whistle.
Football authorities could take action after this latest fracas between the
pair, but Wenger was unrepentant.
"I don’t regret it. What is there to regret? I wanted to go from A to B and
somebody confronted me before B without any sign of welcome," he said.
“B was Sanchez, to see how badly he was injured. Honestly, I don’t listen to
what he says. You could see if I really try to push. Come on.
Mourinho, who appeared to grab Wenger’s tie on the touchline, admits his
temper has boiled over in the past, but did not believe he was to blame on
this occasion.
“It becomes heated because it’s a big game, big clubs, big rivals, an
important match for both teams. These conditions make a game of emotions,"
he said.
“After that, there are two technical areas. One for me, one for him. He was
coming into my technical area and not for the right reasons, to give some
technical instructions.
“He was coming to push the referee for a red card and I didn’t like that.
“But to be fair, I do so many wrong things in football, sometimes you lose
emotions but not this time. This time I was just in my technical area and it
was not my problem. Story over.“
Sky Sports' Gary Neville believes the result was never in doubt and while it
wasn’t as crushing as last year’s 6-0 thrashing of Arsene Wenger’s side,
Chelsea bore the hallmarks of a superior team.
“Chelsea seemed to be in control of everything in the game,” he said. “It
was comfortable.
“I didn’t think Arsenal played badly – I thought they started the game well,
as Jose Mourinho said – but you never felt Chelsea were in danger of not
winning.
“You always felt Chelsea had a gear to go up to if they needed to, while
John Obi Mikel came on in the second half and they seemed to get stronger
and sterner.
“The big moments were taken by Chelsea – Hazard got the penalty with a great
run and then the combination between Cesc Fabregas and Costa in the second
half was a fantastic goal.
“They’re at a higher level than Arsenal.”
The regulations relating to head injuries are likely to be scrutinised in
the coming days after Thibaut Courtois went to hospital for precautionary
tests, having initially played on following a collision with Sanchez.
There are concerns that clubs have too much say in whether a player can
continue or not, but Mourinho insisted he leaves such decisions to Chelsea
medical director Paco Biosca and his staff.
The Portuguese said: "On the bench I don't communicate with the doctors. I
just get decisions. I was just worried for the kid (Courtois), not worried
about the game and the performance."
Chelsea take a commanding advantage into the international break after
dropping just two points in the opening seven games, in drawing 1-1 at the
Etihad Stadium.
"The start of the season is good, but it's just seven matches and beginning
of October," Mourinho said.
"We have only reasons to be happy. I feel the team is good in every moment
of the game."
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