STOKE, England, April 29 – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hit out at Stoke’s boo-boys after Gunners midfielder Aaron Ramsey was targeted for abuse during his side’s 1-1 draw.
Ramsey was jeered throughout at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday, two years after sustaining a horrific double leg fracture on the same ground following a reckless challenge by Ryan Shawcross.
Wenger, who was also taunted mercilessly by sections of the Potters support, shrugged off the personal abuse but admitted he was baffled by the vitriol directed at Ramsey.
“I don’t think that you can be especially proud to boo Aaron Ramsey because I don’t see what he has done wrong in his behaviour,” Wenger said.
“That’s a story where the fans of Stoke stand behind that player (Shawcross) but they shouldn’t go as far as booing Aaron Ramsey.
“(The Stoke fans) have a relationship with me but I don’t have one with them. I personally have enough experience to cope with that. It doesn’t bother me too much.”
Wenger however said football authorities must address the issue of abusive fans eventually.
“One day football has to face this and tackle that because it’s easy to sit in the stand and insult people,” Wenger said.
“My response is that I ignore what people say. I focus on what I love in my job, I love my job and I am not responsible for the way people behave in the stands. If you want to stop that it’s easy to stop, because you can isolate every face, but I can’t influence it.
“The only thing I think sometimes when I go off at the end of the game when people insult you, are angry or hateful, if you could get just a little picture and send it home to you to show your son or your daughter and see if you do it again, if you are proud.”
Wenger also dismissed the suggestion that Morrocco international forward Marouane Chamakh will definitely be sold this summer.
Chamakh, 28, has struggled to make an impression since joining on a free transfer from Bordeaux in 2010 and has made just one start this season.
But Wenger was pleased with the striker’s performance after Chamakh came off the bench at the Britannia Stadium.
“Chamakh did well, nothing is definite at the moment, at the end of the season you will have big surprises but there won’t be a lot of movement in football,” he said.
Robin van Persie’s 35th goal of the season cancelled out Peter Crouch’s early opener at the Britannia but Arsenal could not find a winner that would have taken them a long way towards confirming their Champions League place for next season.
Meanwhile Stoke’s Tony Pulis agrees that abuse of managers is unacceptable but claims that it is tolerated by every manager in the Premier League.
“It is very difficult for us all. I go to grounds and get abused and you have to accept it. Should you? You should speak to authorities,” Pulis said.
“I go to grounds and get a load of stick. Air Alex Ferguson will go to certain grounds and get slaughtered. Is it acceptable?”
