Former Manchester United hero Lou Macari has hammered Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger for his team selection against Stoke City and claimed that the Frenchman disrespected the traditions of the FA Cup by dropping so many of his first choice players.
The Scot, who played at Old Trafford between 1973-1984 and managed the Potters for two seasons in the early nineties, told fanzine Why Delilah that, “it was a close run thing on Sunday – whether I was more happy that Stoke had won or that Arsenal had lost,” before hammering the Arsenal coach for his insulting line-up.
“I thought he [Wenger] insulted Stoke City and the FA Cup with the team he put out at the Britannia Stadium.
“I just couldn’t believe it and, when I took one look at his defence, I immediately wrote them [Arsenal] off and sat back awaiting a Stoke win.
“I just got the impression that Wenger wasn’t bothered one way or the other on Sunday – and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing when he made his substitutions in the second half.
“First of all he puts on all three in the 67th minute, running the risk of injuries kicking in and leaving him without any replacements.
“Then there was the sight of Andrey Arshavin larking about on the touchline with a bobble hat on his head before his manager smiled and whipped it off him.
“Wenger made 10 changes in total to his starting line-up and, no doubt, there will be those saying he was entitled to rest senior players and not risk injuries ahead of a tough run of league games.
Do me a favour. Why can’t a fit professional play on a Sunday and then again the following Wednesday? Is he going to seize up or have some kind of fit because of the exertion?
“I’m afraid the real reason he rested so many senior players is that neither he, nor probably they, are taking the FA Cup anywhere near as seriously as they should.
“It’s an institution in this country, not just a tradition, and such an attitude shows it great disrespect.
“I was just so pleased to see Stoke take advantage – and credit to them for stemming the tide when Arsenal were on top.
“A Gunners win would have been a victory for Wenger’s awful approach to the tie.”
Macari’s comments are sure to rile Arsenal fans given his former club’s own team selections in the recent past. Manchester United were knocked out at home against Leeds United in the third round after fielding several young players, while the Old Trafford outfit completely abandoned the FA Cup in 2000 in favour of participating in the World Club Cup in Brazil.