Coyle hits out at Gallas 'assault'
Owen Coyle was livid after William Gallas' poorly-timed tackle on Mark Davies
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Thursday, 21, Jan 2010 10:36
By Alistair Potter.
Bolton manager Owen Coyle has branded Arsenal defender William Gallas' challenge on Mark Davies "closer to an assault than a tackle".
Replays of the incident, which happened in the build-up to the Gunners' second goal in their 4-2 victory at the Emirates Stadium, showed the French international miss the ball and follow through directly onto his opponent's ankle.
Davies was stretchered off with what looks to be a serious ankle injury and Coyle said the home side should have realised the severity of the problem and put the ball out of play - instead of carrying on and allowing Cesc Fabregas to equalise.
"There's no doubt it should have been a free-kick and I would suggest it's probably closer to a sending off as far as I'm concerned," said the former Burnley boss.
"That went against us and it was a big turning point in the game.
"It was closer to an assault than a tackle and for it not to be given, having watched it again, he [Gallas] has certainly not touched any of the ball and my lad's in with suspected serious ankle damage."
Despite Davies lying in a crumpled heap midway inside his own half, referee Mark Clattenburg allowed play to continue, leading to Fabregas' goal that levelled the scores at 2-2.
And while Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admitted Gallas' tackle was dangerous, he saw nothing wrong with his players continuing the game.
"To complain that we went on to play I think is unfair," said Wenger.
"The players did not know what was happening behind them, whether the player has got up or not."
Wenger referred to an incident during his side's 2-2 home draw with Everton earlier this month when midfielder Denilson appeared to twist his knee and fell to the ground, gifting possession to the Toffees.
Everton almost scored for what would have been a 3-1 lead late in the second half, and the Frenchman said the decision against Bolton simply showed consistency in the rules.
"I don't believe you can kick the ball out every time a player is down when you win the ball. That is why they changed the rules," he explained.
"Remember [against] Everton, I did not think they should have kicked the ball out and it was a much more obvious situation because Denilson went down, they got the ball and might have gone 3-1 up.
"I said after the game that it was OK."
Arsenal's two-goal victory took them to the top of the Premier League on goal difference, leapfrogging Manchester United and Chelsea. For Bolton the defeat leaves them mired in the relegation zone, with only Portsmouth below them.