Emmanuel Adebayor and Nicklas Bendtner Could Face Disciplinary Action

voldemort · 01-23-2008, 12:30 PM

Arsenal strikers Emmanuel Adebayor and Nicklas Bendtner could be investigated after clashing towards the end of the Gunners' 5-1 Carling Cup rout by arch-enemies Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

Seven minutes from the end of Tuesday's semi-final second leg, the Togo an Denmark internationals squared up to each other twice in obvious disagreement.

Bendtner appeared to suffer a cut on the bridge of his nose, possibly from a head-butt, and Arsenal captain William Gallas - who already had enough to worry about as Arsenal's makeshift defence was torn apart repeatedly by incisive Spurs - intervened to separate the feuding pair.

Referee Howard Webb also had words.

It is likely that Arsenal will demand an explanation from their two employees - and the FA may yet want to study the incident and draw some conclusions or launch an investigation.

Bendtner had scored an unfortunate own goal to put rampant Spurs two-up in the first-half, while Adebayor had come off the bench to replace the disappointing Theo Walcott in the 65th minute when Arsenal were already 4-0 down.

Within five minutes of his introduction he left his mark on the game by scoring Arsenal's solitary goal with a superb shot from 20 yards - his seventh goal against Tottenham since joining Arsenal in January 2006.

But after he'd been on the pitch for 28 minutes, frustrations boiled over between him and Bendtner. Arsenal were not used to losing to Spurs - Tottenham hadn't won a North London derby for nine years - and it showed.

Gallas said later of the flare-up between his two team-mates: "I don't know exactly what happened.

"They know they made a mistake and maybe they will have to see the boss and explain why they did that. They are young and they have to understand that."

The incident was also seen by Arsenal substitute Matthieu Flamini, who was urging his team-mates to calm down from the bench.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, though, had a predictably diplomatic touch of myopia, insisting: "I did not know anything about it. I didn't see it."

Whatever, his thoughts on the matter, Wenger is not the sort to criticise any of his players in public, though he may well be furious with the pair in private, particularly as a strong team spirit is one of the ingredients he has repeatedly cited when asked to explain his team's impressive season to date.

source:goal.com

01-23-2008, 12:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
voldemort Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 9,158	Emmanuel Adebayor and Nicklas Bendtner Could Face Disciplinary Action Arsenal strikers Emmanuel Adebayor and Nicklas Bendtner could be investigated after clashing towards the end of the Gunners' 5-1 Carling Cup rout by arch-enemies Tottenham at White Hart Lane. Seven minutes from the end of Tuesday's semi-final second leg, the Togo an Denmark internationals squared up to each other twice in obvious disagreement. Bendtner appeared to suffer a cut on the bridge of his nose, possibly from a head-butt, and Arsenal captain William Gallas - who already had enough to worry about as Arsenal's makeshift defence was torn apart repeatedly by incisive Spurs - intervened to separate the feuding pair. Referee Howard Webb also had words. It is likely that Arsenal will demand an explanation from their two employees - and the FA may yet want to study the incident and draw some conclusions or launch an investigation. Bendtner had scored an unfortunate own goal to put rampant Spurs two-up in the first-half, while Adebayor had come off the bench to replace the disappointing Theo Walcott in the 65th minute when Arsenal were already 4-0 down. Within five minutes of his introduction he left his mark on the game by scoring Arsenal's solitary goal with a superb shot from 20 yards - his seventh goal against Tottenham since joining Arsenal in January 2006. But after he'd been on the pitch for 28 minutes, frustrations boiled over between him and Bendtner. Arsenal were not used to losing to Spurs - Tottenham hadn't won a North London derby for nine years - and it showed. Gallas said later of the flare-up between his two team-mates: "I don't know exactly what happened. "They know they made a mistake and maybe they will have to see the boss and explain why they did that. They are young and they have to understand that." The incident was also seen by Arsenal substitute Matthieu Flamini, who was urging his team-mates to calm down from the bench. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, though, had a predictably diplomatic touch of myopia, insisting: "I did not know anything about it. I didn't see it." Whatever, his thoughts on the matter, Wenger is not the sort to criticise any of his players in public, though he may well be furious with the pair in private, particularly as a strong team spirit is one of the ingredients he has repeatedly cited when asked to explain his team's impressive season to date. source:goal.com