Wenger slams cynical Bolton

Last updated : 11 February 2006 By Chris Parry
Arsenal await the results of x-rays to Reyes' leg, but Wenger had this to say:

"We don't have the result of the X-ray yet, so we don't know if it is a broken leg or not. But I fear it is. I thought it was a bad tackle. I have not seen it again but he looked to go in with one foot over the ball.

"We had so many young players at the back and were 1-0 down against an experienced side who used all the tricks which are creeping into the English game now. You would like the referees to show a little bit more authority to make the game respected.

"You know now that when you are 1-0 down the players will dive, at every change the player takes two minutes, at every goal-kick you have to shout to the referee to get the keeper to take it. I find it personally terrible to take for people who pay to watch games and I would like referees to respond much better to these situations.

"They come up with one or two minutes more injury time but that is not the answer. People do not want to see people lie down on the pitch when they have nothing. I do not look at especially one team. It does not matter who has crept it in, the referees have not to accept it."

"It has got much worse and is predictable. That is not what you want to see. That was not football what you see there. You want to watch football, not time-wasting."

"It was a bit of an edgy start, so that put ourselves under a bit of pressure. But progressively we took over and in the second half it was one-way traffic. We should have won this game comfortably.

"Overall, I am very proud of the strength and quality we have shown. We have so many young players in the side, I feel it is fantastic."