Ronaldo asks for trouble says Wenger

ARSENE Wenger recognises Cristiano Ronaldo as a class act but believes the Manchester United star’s “provocative arrogance” can contribute to him being targeted by the game’s tough-guys.

TACKLING PROBLEM But Wenger could start a row TACKLING PROBLEM: But Wenger could start a row

World Player of the Year Ronaldo was sent sprawling at Newcastle on Wednesday after an attempted forearm smash by defender Steven Taylor, and Ronaldo claims he is not given enough protection. It followed some X-rated horror tackles in other top-flight matches, and Wenger revealed some sympathy for Ronaldo’s situation.

He said: “Every bad tackle that is not punished is not right.

“With Manchester United I am a bit cautious because sometimes I feel they get too much protection, and sometimes they don’t get enough. Ronaldo is a specific example of that.

“Sometimes his arrogance is provocative – and his class as well. When a player is not protected, it’s not right. When there is a bad tackle you have to be punished and to get off the pitch.”

Such comments are likely to upset United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, but Arsenal manager Wenger was not being mischievous – just entering into the wider, growing debate over the scourge of horror tackles which he believes can “destroy careers”.

Wenger says the game is “less dirty” than it was 10 years ago, but stressed there is still room for improvement. He added: “We have less dirty challenges but when you have them it is much more dangerous because the power of the player is much so higher.

“The speed is so high. If you are caught just a fraction of a second when you are on your standing leg it can destroy your career.

“The few tackles that happen today are more dangerous because the power of the players has improved and the speed has improved.”

Wenger believes some players go into a tackle to hurt their opponent and that transgressors do not receive sufficient punishment.

He said: “They could create a special committee to analyse if a three-match ban is enough or not. Because in some tackles, 10 is not enough.

“If you tackle a player, anybody in the street like that, you go to jail.

“I like tackling because it’s a fantastic technique.

“I am scared that the good tackle goes out of the game and the good tackle is beautiful to watch, because you see the guy sliding in, playing the ball, focused on the ball. And then you see a guy tackling with two feet; one is at the level of the knee, the other one is half over the ball. You say, ‘Bye, bye, go home, what are you doing on a football pitch’.

“I don’t see many good tacklers, like past players who won the ball and made the pass.

“There is a massive difference in that and jumping in like a mad guy, where you can destroy the legs of anybody, because we have some players who are 90 kilos and who run the 100 metres in just

11 seconds. Maybe we managers need to be stronger with our own players. But sometimes you see the players who make horrendous tackles and they say to the ref, ‘What’s wrong there’?

“After you see the picture you think, ‘My friend, touch your head because you have completely lost touch with reality’. But they know what they have done.”

Wenger also dismissed reports that he topped Manchester City’s summer managerial wish-list. He said: “I have never allowed anyone to question my commitment to Arsenal in the good and bad times. That has not changed in my mind.

“You have told me I am on the wanted list.

I don’t know if that is true; it is certainly not true because Manchester City have a manager, Mark Hughes, who is very good and doing a good job.

“Manchester City have to have confidence in him.

“On my own side, I am contracted to Arsenal until 2011. And until 2011 I do not envisage going anywhere else.”

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