Martin O’Neill has launched a scathing response to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger’s post match comments regarding Aston Villa’s style of football.
Aston Villa held Premier League chasing Arsenal to 0-0 draw at Villa Park yesterday and after the game, Wenger dismissed Martin O’Neill’s side as an “efficient English game with long balls and very physical.” O’Neill unleashed a furious response to the long-serving Arsenal boss, suggesting the Frenchman has previous when it comes to dismissing opponents out of hand.
Arsene Wenger was clearly frustrated at Arsenal’s inability to cope with Aston Villa’s game-plan and having lost ground in the Premier League title race to Chelsea, Wenger vented his annoyance at Martin O’Neill’s tactics.
The Arsenal manager told a press conference: “We know what you get when you come here and we were not disappointed.”
“It's a very efficient English game with long balls and very physical.”
Martin O’Neill was clearly infuriated by his Premier league counterparts post-match remarks, suggesting it was a typical Wenger comment. The Aston Villa boss retorted by suggesting Ahsley Young was too busy embarrassing Gael Clichy to think about playing a long-ball.
O’Neill told the press: “He's made a few ridiculous statements in his time here and that's probably as good as any,”
“That's only an annoyance at the end of it all. Anybody who saw the game wouldn't take that viewpoint.”
“Ashley Young didn't have time to play long balls when he was taking that left-back [Gael Clichy] to the cleaners.”
“It's an ¬appalling insult.”