Did I hear Wenger say something about teams having to kick Arsenal in order to try and beat them? Was he sitting in such a bad position at Old Trafford a week ago that it caused him to miss all the bad-tempered lunges and deliberate kicks that his 'boys' employed when they were being shown up in the FA Cup? Nani, in particular, was subject to Arsenal's childish tantrums, just because they couldn't get the ball off him - and we all know that it's Arsenal's ball. Wenger's excuse for his players thuggish behaviour - Nani deserved it because he was tormenting Arsene's little boys.
What a bunch of puffed up hypocrites. To revert to cliche - If you can't take it, don't give it. Nobody likes to see a player get badly injured, but that could have happened last week when Arsenal were putting it about.
Until the FA starts getting serious - docking points for any high, studs up, two footed or any other tackle that could cause serious injury - this will happen again. What good's a red card?

Barrie, Kendal, Cumbria

this week, gallas was justifiably frustrated about a harsh penalty decision that went against arsenal and he was kicking an inanimate object.

last week, of course, he was getting stroppy about being outplayed by united and he was kicking the very animate nani.

you'd have to be very blinkered not to see a pattern.

jem, london, uk

bout time Aresnal fans grew up. Taylor was doing his job - full stop. You will see much worse tackles than that in most premiership games, week in, week out. difference is that "top club stars" get away with it, and those of lesser standing don't. No doubt the injury was horrific, although it wouild appear it looks much worse that it was. But there is no evidence to justify the vitriol being thrown at Taylor. No charges appear forthcoming, and those in the game seem to accept (even Wenger) that the injury was just one of those freak accidents that happen from time to time.

Alastair Harris, DERBY,

Tom Dart at St. Andrews or Rita Skeeter watching Match of the Day?

Jack Evans, London,

I just cannot understand your point of view... There is only sympathy for Taylor' entirely unprovoked act of violence while you lambast Gallas' actions as if he had just commmitted a heinous crime... and you also find time and place to criticise Wenger while Mcleish' ridiculous comments (no contact was made) who without doubt told his players to 'get stuck in'.(hence his immediate defence) do not get a mention.... Is a little perspective asking for too much ???? Unbelievable

kalyan, lansing, USA

arsenal were unlucky to drop points when it was clear that no penalty should have been given. perhaps wenger is right about the physical tactics employed against his team.

however, arsenal have not been above employing such tactics and anyone who witnessed the behaviour of their players at old trafford last week-end will find it hard to sympathise. it could just as easily be nani with his leg in plaster (and from reckless challenges from any one of about four arsenal players).

I note that wenger chose to ignore hamann's performance for city against united - he was, apparently, man of the match, but should have been sent off within 20 minutes and fouled repeatedly throughout the game. he also tripped ronaldo in the penalty area and city's winner was offside. I note in passing that eduardo's winner against city the previous week was offside as well.

wenger sees what he wants to see.

I laugh at the idea of the arsenal-loving media do anything to play down their chances.

jem, london, uk

Is it beyond Any arsenal fan to recognize that their first goal only came after Maik Taylor was taken out by Adebayor.
I will recognize Blues were lucky to get the penalty decision, which was only subsequently shown to be incorrect by slo motion replays non available to the referee

D Nash, smiths, Bermuda

Thinking that this unfortunate event and underserved draw will stop us on our way to the title is sheer wishful thinking. If anything, it will strengthen our resolve to win it for Eduardo. Gallas is a warrior and even warrior cry at times for the injustice, for an injured teammate. It's okay. It just showed how much he cares. Eduardo, get well soon. All our prayers are with you. For the rest, watch out, Arsenal are coming.

Alex Hundt, London,

I don't want to see players with broken legs, and I doubt anyone else did. However the hypocrisy of Wenger and Arsenal sticks in my throat something rotten. Just last week, SEVERAL Arsenal players DELIBERATELY targetted Nani with awful tackles, because he took the piss a bit. OK maybe he shouldn't have (but then maybe Arsenal should have bothered to make an effort in front of 75,000 paying fans even if it was "only" the FA Cup), but after then game Wenger of course condemmed Nani, not his players.

I sympathise with Eduardo (who had nothing to do with the Nani stuff), but Wenger is a first class hypocrite to condemn an honest mistake, when his players have been pretty awful on many occasions, and of course he "never sees it".

Nick, France,

I despair that we have allowed such a culture of brutality to flourish in the ‘beautiful game’ in England. The perpetrators of these ‘assaults’ are defended, the victims (especially if they’re foreign) mocked.It’s not really Taylor’s fault that Eduardo is faced with a career threatening, potentially crippling, injury; he thought his tackle was in the spirit of English football. Nothing that the FA or the Police have done now or in the past could have led him to believe his was a criminal assault. Of course he’s distraught now that he has seen the consequences of his recklessness and of course he’s an honest pro, who doesn’t have a ‘bad bone in him’ (one particulalry inappropriate comment by McLeish), but the fact remains he tackled Eduardo with such ferocity that Eduardos foot was only left attached to his leg by some muscle and a few tendons. The attempt of the media to divert attention from this to the reaction of Wenger and his teams is risible: shame on you & English football

Trevor Brooks, Gillingham, UK

Don't you think it's a bit inappropriate to rate Eduardo's performance with a 5?

Marcel, Den Haag, The Netherlands

The horrific injury set the tone. The subsequent inability to close out the win and the behaviour of the captain are the bigger issues facing Arsenal. Without question a "turning point" in this season and only time will tell whether Mr Wenger has the expertise to manage his young squad through this current turmoil. Champion teams win major championships - the pretenders finish also rans. We're about the learn what Mr Wenger and this Arsenal squad truly are.

Richard, Kowloon,

The focus should be on Eduardo and the major facts of the game. Behaviour of Wenger and Gallas didn't influence the game. It was the horrific injury inflicted by vicious Taylor and the poor referee decisions that ultimately cost Arsenal 2 points. By all means, Birmingham deserve nothing from the game. I look forward to see them to be relegated soon.

If I want to watch a physical game, I go and watch rugby. Football is not about talentless physical thuggery act practiced by many teams in the Prem. There is a reason why some of the best players want to avoid the Prem. They don't want to spend their entire life on a wheel chair, unable to walk, unable to run and worst of all, unable to play football anymore.

I also find it ridiculous when others argue Taylor's tackle is not malicious. He raised his studs and did not aimed for the ball. If it only a mistimed tackle how could anybody explain why his feet end up on Eduardo's ankle. Poor Eduardo, I wish him a speedy recover

Peter, Coventry,

arsenal were unlucky to drop points when it was clear that no penalty should have been given. perhaps wenger is right about the physical tactics employed against his team.

however, arsenal have not been above employing such tactics and anyone who witnessed the behaviour of their players at old trafford last week-end will find it hard to sympathise. it could just as easily be nani with his leg in plaster (and from reckless challenges from any one of about four arsenal players).

I note that wenger chose to ignore hamann's performance for city against united - he was, apparently, man of the match, but should have been sent off within 20 minutes and fouled repeatedly throughout the game. he also tripped ronaldo in the penalty area and city's winner was offside. I note in passing that eduardo's winner against city the previous week was offside as well.

wenger sees what he wants to see.

I laugh at the idea of the arsenal-loving media do anything to play down their chances.

jem, london, uk

It is incredible that the perpretrator of this truly vile deed should receive the same punishment (3-match ban) as, say, Jeremie Aliardier for his innocuous raised arm in the face of an opponent at Anfield.

Ironically, had the referee not witnessed the incident and dealt with it (perfectly) at the time, FA rules would have enabled a full enquiry and the potential for a more appropriate punishment to take place. Arsenal fans with long memories can recall Paul Davis being banned for 9 games for breaking an opponents' jaw behind the ref's back. Nasty, for sure, but hardly career-threatening.

So the moral seems to be - if you're going to commit a caluculated act of violence on a football field, make sure the ref gets a good view.

Bob, London,

It's unbelievable how the media and many fans condemn Wenger's and Gallas' behaviour as if they were the villains of the day. They somehow seem to suggest Wenger and Gallas were responsible for Eduardo's injury. Wenger's reaction was over the top I admit, but he had just lost an important player to a horrible tackle, and he called back his comments, something which Taylor's teammates haven't done, even saying "it wasn't a red card tackle". What a load of crap. Taylor's reckless and stupid tackle jeopardized a young man's career. HE is the bad guy here, not Wenger.

My best wishes to Eduardo, I hope he recovers and can get back to the game as soon as possible.

Jasu, Finland,

An easy way to stop these ridiculous tackles (of which there are too many in england)....ensure the defender is banned from playing for as long as the injured player is out of the game .
If Eduardo is out for 6 months,then Taylor should be out for 6 months.If Eduardo is out for a year,then Taylor should be out for a year.If Eduardo never plays again,then Taylor should never play again.
Taylor should be made to bear the consequences of his actions.

C.Elder, Paris France,

this week, gallas was justifiably frustrated about a harsh penalty decision that went against arsenal and he was kicking an inanimate object.

last week, of course, he was getting stroppy about being outplayed by united and he was kicking the very animate nani.

you'd have to be very blinkered not to see a pattern.

jem, london, uk

To say Arsenal lost the plot is not fair and totally misleading. I can't help but question which game our learned scribe here was watching.
Arsnal fought back with usual class after a traumatising first half and the Birmingham was defence terrorised by a sensational teenager.

Only 3 things counted in City's favour all day,namely;
1. breaking Eduardo's leg to unsettle Arsenal (who overcame that in the second half).
2. Two shocking decisions by the ref.

Zwe,Manchester.

Zwe Moyo, Manchester,

I have been an Arsenal supporter for decades.
Did Wenger go too far?, not when you see that Taylor hit Eduardo in the middle of the leg. Admittedly not a two footed challenge, the only difference is that he is not as certain of contact. This was at least a very seriously reckless tackle, if not downright malicious. The intent must at least have been to kick him, he was not attempting the ball at all.

English football must get rid of such tackles. As part of that effort Arsenal should get rid of the idiot Eboue who is a danger to opponents and his team. Should have been sent off against Chelsea for the tackle on Terry who has only now returned.

Jakob R. Möller, Reykjavik, Iceland

Just want to wish Eudardo all the best for the recovery. I hope he plays again, he's a greart player. Credit to the Arsenal squad aswell after witnessing such a bad tackle on a team mate, you could quite cleary see the distress on there faces.

Dont quite agree with bringing an assault charge on Taylor, my guess - Nothing would come of the case!! This is football after all. & these players have money . . . . . .

Smoggie89, Stockton-On-Tees,

arsenal were unlucky to drop points when it was clear that no penalty should have been given. perhaps wenger is right about the physical tactics employed against his team.

however, arsenal have not been above employing such tactics and anyone who witnessed the behaviour of their players at old trafford last week-end will find it hard to sympathise. it could just as easily be nani with his leg in plaster (and from reckless challenges from any one of about four arsenal players).

I note that wenger chose to ignore hamann's performance for city against united - he was, apparently, man of the match, but should have been sent off within 20 minutes and fouled repeatedly throughout the game. he also tripped ronaldo in the penalty area and city's winner was offside. I note in passing that eduardo's winner against city the previous week was offside as well.

wenger sees what he wants to see.

I laugh at the idea of the arsenal-loving media do anything to play down their chances.

jem, london, uk

Mr Dart's comments sum up why England has failed to win anything at all when playing on foreign fields. The acceptance of a tackle, from a standing position, that can course so much damage to a human being is reprehensible.
I've never seen Mr Dart's medal collection but I do know about Mr Wenger's. It would appear he would be the man to listen to rather than some amateur scribe.
Football is about winning and making use of the ball. Mr Wenger has done this rather well over the last 11 years. If you want an 'up 'em and at 'em' principle then maybe Mr Allardyce will be the manager of a big 4 club very soon. I doubt it somehow.
Eduardo did nothing wrong even though Mr Dart, through his snidey comments, veers towards that conclusion. If a 15 stone lump of a man can do that damage from a standing position, Lord help us when the 'gentle giant' is in motion.

Matthew, Crawley, UK

Not one word of criticism in the article for Martin Taylor, I note. Plenty, though, for Wenger and Gallas. What strange values some football reporters seem to have.

I see you give Eduardo 5 points. He was on for 3 minutes and had his leg smashed by a brutal tackle. Did you think perhaps he over-reacted? He should have got his leg out of the way in time? And Martin Taylor gets 4 points: on for 3 minutes, breaks someone's leg, possibly ends their playing career. What do you have to do to get 1 point? Go berserk with an axe and massacre the opposing team?

Mick H, London,

I have to say this article was written with a very skewed perspective of fairness. It is unbelievable that Tom Dart could compare Gallas kicking the advert board with Taylor breaking Eduardo's leg, and ends up judging Gallas's behaviour is the unaaceptable between the 2. It disgusts me to the bone imagining Mr dart's thought process and the basis of his argument.

Izwan, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia

It has alway's been my opinion that the media/journalists should remain impartial when reporting on sports events ?
Coverage of the "incidents" on this occasion only help to lose sight of the fact that a young gifted footballer may, hopefully not, have his promising career ended, Arsenal collectively overcame their shock and played some excellent football to get back into the game and then were denied the victory they so richly deserved by a poor refereeing decision!.
The frustration shown by William Gallas and indeed Arsene Wenger afterwards is to a certain extent understandable but never justifiable.
I agree that there should be a period of reflection now
and focus on the wellbeing and recovery of Eduardo Silva.

Jim
Dublin

Jim Maher, Dublin, Ireland

A. French's comments show that too many "fans" have little idea how football is played. The tackle was made from a standing position and even if clumsy was not malicious. To judge the tackle, look at the footage leading up to it, not the injury.

The hypocrisy surrounding much of Wenger's (and his fans) petulance, as Tom Dart clearly outlines, is being missed in an attempt to deflect attention from Wenger's upset at losing a quality striker & two points, but he is too well paid to call for Taylor's career to end. Wenger may have brought style to the Premiership but he has also brought Gallic petulance and arrogance. His retraction was cowardly. He should appear personally to admit his comments were not simply "emotional" but intemperate & unacceptable.

Arsenal cannot play top clubs every week and next season still have to visit stadia unused to the "beauty" Wenger expects. If Taylor is unfit for the Premiership then so are 75% of the players with smaller clubs.

Iain D, Clitheroe, Lancs

For all that Gallas may have lashed out, or allowed his passion to get the better of him at the end of the game, it's no good comparing it to Taylor's challenge.
Gallas sulked, and he kicked an inanimate object; he did not seriously disrupt the game, let alone act recklessly towards anyone. Even if one avoids painting Taylor as a villain in all of this, it's hard to equate what he did with any reading of the Arsenal captain's actions.

James Tucker, London,

A horrific, sick incident and poor Eduardo - all the best to him.

Gallas, though, behaves likes a petulant teenage girl. If my captain behaved like that i'd be horrified. It was so ridiculous I laughed all the way into my Man U bed. Long may he captain Arsenal.

Can you imagine Roy Keane weeping like that? No. That's why United will always win more than Arsenal.

Philip, HIghbury,

Why don't you show the first shot where Taylor made contact on the shin in between the knee and the ankle. It was wreckless and dangerous challenge. It's sympotomatic of the 'let them know you're there', 'go in hard' and 'leave the boot in' thuggery. Taylor has overstepped the line with malicious or through poor judgement.

Haider, London,

Replays show the penalty given against Clichy wasn't valid, Adebayor has his shirt was pulled in the penalty box - clear penalty.

Haider, London, UK

Gallas' anger was understandable, a harsh penalty given against his team on a day when his team outplayed their opposition and still had to settle for a point. Furthermore, the more journalists hype up Manchester United and say Arsenal are bound to crack, the more you influence the title race, so you all ought to merely praise the achievements of both, and don't look to find problems with them. Be thankful that the title race is good for the first time in 5 years, and try to influence it yes with your words...

Enis Koylu, London,

Far from losing the plot, the way those young players rallied themselves after witnessing that horrific injury was admirable.

I've been disgusted by the media and pundits reaction to the thuggery on display from Martin Taylor, the excuses and complacency have been shameful. The world has just seen English football at its very worst and the attitudes on display have only compounded the rot that has seeped into our game.

A.French, London, UK

What's all the hype over this so called 'stumble' I keep reading about. Over the last 3 matches we have gained three points over United and 1 over Chelsea (and they didn't even play over the weekend)

Saturday was bad but surely we suffered all the bad luck we can suffer in one go then. The key is that it is still in our hands after the game at Old Trafford on the 11th. If so they have the much harder run in and probably a bit of fixture pile up as well.

John Brown, London, UK

Hang on.

Gallas risked snapping an advertising board.

Taylor snapped a leg.

That probably explains Wenger's reaction.

John Wright, London, UK

I am amazed at the total frenzy of irrational and tribal comment surrounding this incident.Wenger has rightly retracted his comments made in the heat of the moment.Generally the majority of fans comments wish Eduardo a speedy recovery, but many cannot resist the opportunity to take the odd swipe,particularly their rivals.I have to ask them the question why?Imagine if this had happened to one of their players,they would be angry,upset and bitter.This is how the majority of Arsenal fans are feeling now.For the good of football a period of honest reflection needs to take place.A quiet unassuming young man is lying in a hospital bed with his leg shattered and his long term future uncertain.Petty comments and swipes from supporters on all sides and the sports journalists must be unwelcomed.A positive consilatory comment from Mcleish in response to Wengers retraction must sureley now follow for the good of the game.Compassion must return to our sport or it will remain in the gutter.

Paul, Hitchin, Herts

Eduardo should file assault and battery charges against Taylor and Arsenal should sue B City for the value of Eduardo's contract.

A disgusting foul and a blemish on English football.

Shame !

Nick Panza, Los Angeles, CA, USA

"and apparently missing the potential hypocrisy in lambasting Taylor for his uncontrolled aggression while sympathising with Gallas’s fury. "

Are you kidding me! How are breaking a man's leg and kicking an advertising hoarding comparable. You are seriously callous my friend.

What is "potential" hypocrisy?

Jonathan, London,