Pardew apologises for Wenger row

Carr

Alan Pardew has apologised to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger over the dramatic touchline row that followed West Ham's late winner at Upton Park.

Wenger appeared to take offence at Hammers boss Pardew's celebrations as Marlon Harewood clinched a 1-0 victory.

Wenger also refused to shake hands with Pardew at the end of the game.

Pardew said: "I apologise if I offended Arsene. If I was over-zealous in my celebrations, which I'm sure I was, I apologise fully to Arsene and Arsenal."

He added: "We've had a tough old season here and maybe it came out.

"Arsene was annoyed with that, maybe quite rightly so, but I hope that I can iron that out and we will be big enough to look each other in the eye.

It was nothing personal, I was celebrating the goal. I've got great respect for him and that won't change.

"Nothing was said. Maybe he was angry at a couple of decisions and it was a physical game. We wanted to upset Arsenal, we wanted to win.

"He is a top guy and I really respect him. I thought I was entitled to celebrate the goal after a pulsating game."

Pardew said he hoped to get the chance to make up with Wenger. "I want to sort things out," said Pardew. "It's not right for the image of the game.

606: Your views on the Pardew-Wenger spat

"Emotions were high but there was nothing dangerous or horrible. That is what happens with last-minute goals."

Former Arsenal manager Terry Neill has revealed that Pardew tried to find Wenger after the game to invite the Frenchman to his office for a conciliatory glass of wine.

Neill was at the match and told BBC Five Live Sport: "I did spend a little bit of time after the game with Alan Pardew.

"He said he had gone to the Arsenal dressing room and tried to make contact with Arsene and invite him down for a glass of wine to his office.

"So I had to have Arsene Wenger's glass of wine instead.

"I've got to say I'm disappointed with Arsene. I would have thought he would have been bigger than the reaction he showed."

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Hakkinen

The Football Association will wait until they have reviewed all the video evidence before deciding whether to take any action against Arsene Wenger or Alan Pardew for their touchline bust-up.  

It is understood the report from referee Rob Styles from yesterday's Premiership match mentions the altercation between the two managers, but a decision has yet to be taken on whether they will face any disciplinary proceedings.

The FA's compliance unit have asked for video footage from all the camera angles to be provided before they make a decision.

The incident blew up at Upton Park after Marlon Harewood snatched a late winner for West Ham, sparking wild celebrations from the under-pressure Pardew and causing Arsenal manager Wenger to react angrily.

The pair had to be separated, and Wenger also snubbed Pardew's post-match handshake. The West Ham manager later apologised to his opposite number.

League Managers' Association chief executive John Barnwell has admitted he is concerned by the spat and has called for the technical areas to be further apart.

'We are absolutely concerned,' said Barnwell. 'I haven't spoken to Alan or Arsene. But what the incident does show is how emotional this game is - and that is what drives them.

'Perhaps Alan could be accused of over-celebrating - but when you look at what he has been through this season who could deny [him] that?

'He is quite entitled to do that. Whether Alan has said something that has provoked a response from Arsene, I don't know.'

Barnwell wants to see the pair resolve their differences as soon as possible, and suggested a possible solution to prevent further disagreements between managers.

'I would like to see them put this to one side,' he said. 'Nothing disastrous has happened.

'One thing I would like is for the technical areas to be at least 20 metres apart - then I don't think you would get these scenes.'

West Ham players have rallied around their boss with Hayden Mullins declaring: 'We will all fight for him and scrap for him.'

Mullins, who is set to sign a new contract as reward for his consistency in central midfield, said: 'If he is under pressure, we will all fight for him and scrap for him.

'We have good camaraderie in the dressing room and the gaffer comes under that bracket.

'The gaffer has got a lot of stick over the last couple of weeks and the boys understood he was under a lot of pressure.

'It was brilliant that we could pull out the two wins for him. Now we can start looking upwards.

Matthew Etherington dismissed the incident as his manager merely showing his passion for the club.

'You see him when he celebrates most goals, he's very passionate and there's nothing wrong with that,' said Etherington, who set up Harewood's winner.

'Obviously there was an added incentive with beating a big team like Arsenal, but if you look at the way he celebrates goals, he celebrates in a passionate way.

'We've got good team spirit even though people are saying we haven't. We've always been behind the gaffer from day one and that's never changed.'

Etherington added: 'It's all a bit of fun and games, it was heated up. The lads were having a laugh and taking the mickey out of the gaffer afterwards, that's it.

'Everyone is professional in their job and it will be forgotten about.'

However, the fall-out from the clash could result in an FA punishment, while West Ham could face action after Robin van Persie appeared to be struck by a coin thrown from the crowd.

Cesc Fabregas and Teddy Sheringham also confronted each other at the end of an incident-packed London derby where West Ham's physical approach appeared to rattle the visitors.  

'Being aggressive is part of the game, both teams were very competitive and wanted to win, there was nothing malicious in that,' said defender Jonathan Spector.

'Both teams really wanted to win and we felt they were a team we could beat, especially coming off their draw in Europe, we knew they wouldn't have their legs as much as they would have wanted to.'


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Manu super fans

原帖由 Hakkinen 於 2006-11-7  10:23 AM 發表
'Perhaps Alan could be accused of over-celebrating - but when you look at what he has been through this season who could deny [him] that?  

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Hakkinen

原帖由 Manu super fans 於 2006-11-7  15:47 發表

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