Bolton Wanderers Manager Owen Coyle: Arsenal Are Not Targets Of Physical Play
Posted Thursday, March 04, 2010 by
Bolton Wanderers manager Owen Coyle has disagreed with his Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger over suggestions that the Gunners are a bull's-eye for physical play from their opponents.
Coyle's observations come in the wake of Stoke City defender Ryan Shawcross' tackle on young Gunner Aaron Ramsey, which ended the latter's season, the Welshman's right tibia and fibula both broken by the challenge.
The north London club are not new to losing their players to such traumatic, long-term injuries: Abou Diaby and Eduardo suffered similarly in the past.
The latest incident left Wenger incensed, but Coyle believes other teams do not give the Gunners any 'special' treatment.
"They are special players, no doubt about that, but there is no way in the world that anyone would go out to intentionally hurt or maim any player," he told The Bolton News.
"Ramsey is a terrific talent and is going to be a top player but there's no way that was intentional to hurt him."
The former Burnley boss maintained that there is a difference between being physically competitive and being downright ruthless in tackling a player.
"If you're not motivated to go out there and be aggressive to begin with, to earn the right to play, then you're going to be run over the top of and made to look foolish," Coyle added.
"We all take pride in trying to make our players competitive, to go and earn the right, as we say in football, but there's no way you'd say 'Go and smash this and that'.
"The boy Shawcross took a bad touch and I'm not even sure if he knew Ramsey was there.
"It's horrible when any young player gets an injury but it's wrong when people start posting blame and saying that they meant it."
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