Wenger blasts Diouf for late tackle on Almunia

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Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger was unhappy with El-Hadji Diouf's ankle crushing challenge on his goalkeeper Manuel Almunia.

The tackle came in the first half of Blackburn's 4-0 loss to the Gunners last Saturday.

TV replays showed Diouf slide in late at full speed, catching Almunia on the ankle after the ball had been cleared. The Senegalese bad-boy was cautioned for the challenge.

Almunia, ordinarily not one to get agitated by the actions of others, was irate, confronting Diouf as the pair left at half-time.

"The challenge from Diouf on Manuel Almunia should be a straight red card," Wenger said in his notes in Arsenal's match programme ahead of Tuesday's FA Cup quarter-final match against Hull.

"I have seen it again and he should have been sent off. You cannot compromise on challenges like that - it could break your leg."

Almunia finished the game but Wenger has confirmed that the Spaniard "is injured now" and "a doubt" for the weekend's game at Newcastle.

Wenger had called earlier this month for longer suspensions for players who commit dangerous tackles. He said the Football Association should create a special committee to determine if a three-match suspension is enough.

The Frenchman has been especially sensitive to bad tackles since Birmingham's Martin Taylor broke Eduardo da Silva's leg last season. Eduardo returned last month after a year on the sidelines and scored two goals in his comeback.


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