Arsene Wenger says he feels some sense of responsibility towards the injury-ravaged careers that Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey have had as he hails the impact of VAR on protecting attacking players.
The Frenchman gave both players their Arsenal bow and they were two key players in the team for years under him.
However, they struggled with injuries with their style of play making it easier for defenders to constantly kick at them.
Ramsey is currently on the books of Juventus in Italy, but constant injuries have seen him struggle to make an impact for the Italian club.
Jack Wilshere was released by Arsenal in 2018 and moved to West Ham, who subsequently released him as he struggled to stay fit.
He spent the second half of last season at Bournemouth, but the Cherries released him at the end of the campaign after failing to gain promotion to the Premier League.
Wenger told The Telegraph: ‘I see more positivity. Before there was more kicking and I must say the media allowed that. The VAR has brought more respect for the offensive game.
‘Sometimes the more technical guys were kicked. Why? It was not very encouraging. We have moved forward from that.
‘We always tried. It was a frustration sometimes. When I look back at players like Wilshere, Ramsey who have been injured early in their career and when you are a manager you feel very responsible for that.’
What did Wenger actually do wrong? He had two talented young players that deserved to play. JW was probably too committed and challenged for balks he was never likely got win. Rambo was the victim of an assault by Shawcross who should have received a season long ban at the very least for that premeditated assault. Diaby was the victim at Sunderland from a nobody who is now remembered only for that tackle. Eduardo too.
As much as I came to want Wenger sacked far earlier than he was not in any way responsible for what happened to these players. The system should allow far tougher actions against the likes of Shawcross who knew exactly what he was doing.
Phil, are you going to the game on Sunday?
As for the injuries to key players, along with the consequences of such tactics – if Roy Keane could get away with admitting he went out to injure an opponent and still sits in a studio, telling all and sundry how to play the game, what chance have skillful players such as Wilshere have?
Especially with the new interpretation that Riley has instructed his referees to adhere too, I can see even more of the same – how long before Saka and/or AMN receive the treatment that clubs like Burnley, Stoke, Bolton etc get away with it, “because they are playing to their strengths?”
Hey Ken- will email you re Sunday mate.
Jack was taken out v Man Utd and that seemed to be the start of his troubles. It was late, but only mid-timed. Ramsey was assaulted by Shawcross playing for a manager who is on record as telling his players to make sure the Arsenal players knew they were going to get a rough time. How is that allowed in the modern game? If that was on the streets after the pubs shit the charge would have been GBH. How was that tackle ant different to a common assault. I was there that day and even though in was over half the length of the pitch away I herds the scream from Ramsey. It could have been career ending yet Shawcross missed 3 games. How is that right?
Same as Diaby. Same as Eduardo. These teams thought we had soft players so we’re out to put it about to stop the players and they certainly did.
Wenger himself admitted we were being targeted as a team. But what could he actually do?
I just wish he was that forthright about far more serious club-related issues that he was responsible for, instead of this nothing burger of an issue
Phil, are you going to the game on Sunday?
As for the injuries to key players, along with the consequences of such tactics – if Roy Keane could get away with admitting he went out to injure an opponent and still sits in a studio, telling all and sundry how to play the game, what chance have skillful players such as Wilshere have?
Especially with the new interpretation that Riley has instructed his referees to adhere too, I can see even more of the same – how long before Saka and/or AMN receive the treatment that clubs like Burnley, Stoke, Bolton etc get away with it, “because they are playing to their strengths?”