So Arsene Wenger condemned Man United’s tactics as ‘anti-football’, and even deemed it worse than the theatrical art of diving. Little surprises there, seeing how myopic the Arsenal boss has been from the moment he stepped onto English soil.

His stable of Arsenal players through the years, talented as they are, have a habit of getting themselves sent off. They received 73 red cards in 13 seasons and for most of them, Wenger claims not to have seen how they transpired.

Inept eye doctor or not, his latest outburst was laughable. The inherent frustration from the final outcome of a match that his team had dominated in every way possible and thoroughly deserved to win offered little logical explanation to how the role of a midfield enforcer was more against the spirit of the sport than trying to con the referee.

In one brash statement, he has put down the Roy Keanes, Macheranos and Gattusos of the world who make a living getting stuck in, breaking up their opponents’ play, and basically irritating the hell out of them. In the same vein, Wenger has elevated the likes of Eduardo, Cristiano Ronaldo and Rivaldo who have, at one point or another, successfully influenced the decision-maker into making a wrong one.

Perhaps the biggest irony was the statement Wenger made about holding midfielders like Darren Fletcher. “I think that’s a bigger problem [than diving] because it cuts the flow of the game. And people come and pay to see football. They do not come to see free-kicks. You should ask the referees [how they get away with it].”

A bigger problem than Emmanuel Eboue side-stepping Patrice Evra during the match and then falling over without contact like a sack of potatoes? At least Wenger had the sense to pull Eboue out of the match immediately, probably realising this latest act of simulation wasn’t the wisest thing to do so soon after Eduardo’s con job in mid-week.

Well, it has become crystal clear, after this match, that Arsene Wenger is a staunch supporter of the beautiful game. Under his charge, the Gunners have played one of the most stylish, creative and free-flowing football in the world, never mind the results.

And in the game against United when instead of merely sulking or burying his head into his hands after an injury-time equaliser was ruled out due to offside, Wenger demonstrated his clear stance of being against anti-football when he kicked a water bottle down the touchline like one.

9 players received a yellow card in the match which was threatening to boil over at points, but Wenger ended up the one getting his marching orders. He most definitely would have seen this one.