Fa Barclaycard Premiership News Update

Fa Barclaycard Premiership News
( 23 December 2008 )

English Premiership football News

Adebayor vents anger at Arbeloa
Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor has accused the defense of Liverpool's Alvaro Arbeloa game action to get him sent Sunday to the 1-1 draw.

Adebayor was shown a second yellow card in the 62nd minute for a clumsy, but the Togo international challenge that the decision was hard for him.

"I can not say that I [Arbeloa] cheat, but what he did is not fair play at all," said 24-year-old.

"The defense was thrown on the floor as if I had put a knife in him."

Manager Arsene Wenger believes that the cost of sending his side the victory and was furious with referee Howard Webb, of the decision.

"I am convinced that we would have won with 11 players," said the Arsenal manager.

"We have taken control of 10 men, but imagine what it would have been like in 11?"
Robin van Persie gave the home side the lead with a brilliant after a good control before Robbie Keane leveled the match with such a good finish just before half time.

Liverpool were on top after the interval, although the chances are at a premium even before Adebayor was at the top of Alvaro Arbeloa, prompting the question, Webb, the striker's second yellow card.

"It was very sweet," said Wenger of the second reservation. "If we get that the network cards, as opponents away from home so I am very happy.

"It was not a network card, it is not a second yellow card. I do not know what it was and I am sure he (the referee) is not known.

"It's frustrating because we had a nervy first half we were under pressure to win this match and I knew we were going to finish strong.

"We played high into the second half and we could not take advantage of the fact that we were gradually taking control of The Game because we were 10 men."
Adebayor agreed with his manager and believes feelings Webb made a mistake.

"I do not think I deserved a yellow card and the referee just want to go back and watch television again," he said.

"I just wanted to protect the ball. An attacker like me, Robbie Keane, (Nicolas) Anelka and (Didier) Drogba still protect the ball and that's what happened.

"At the end of the end of the day, I made a mistake and must recognize that what he did was a small mistake."

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez was absent from the key after undergoing an operation to remove kidney stones during the week.

With the Spanish at home recovering, assistant boss Sammy Lee stepped into the vacuum and subsequently revealed that Benitez had remained in regular contact.

"We have been in contact all week and we made sure we were in contact before and during The Game," he said.

"I was at home and it testifies to his professionalism, as it was in great pain."
Liverpool are two points clear of Chelsea at the top with the club in west London, due to face Everton on Sunday and so happy, at one point, Lee was disappointed not to leave the Emirates with three.

"This is Liverpool and we expect to take three points wherever we go," said 49-year-old.

"The boys are disappointed but we have to accentuate the positive and we got a good point to a very good club.

"Part of our disappointment is that we do not use our power play but credit to Arsenal, who worked hard when they were a man down."

The purpose of Keane was his third in the league for Liverpool this season and comes after recent criticism for performance below 28 years but believes he still has much to offer this season.

"It is always nice to score a goal as a striker," he said.

"We are judged on goals and not on the rest of us. It's always nice to score, but what is important is that this is not about me, it was on the team and not to fight.

"I know I'll score a lot of goals for the club. It is nice to score today and I know there will be many more to come.

"I'd rather be judged at the end of the season and not in December."
by bbcnews.