Football
Kevin Palmer 10y

Wenger accuses Arjen Robben of diving

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger accused Bayern Munich midfielder Arjen Robben of being "a very good diver" as he won a second contentious penalty in the Champions League last-16 tie against the Gunners.

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Robben was at the centre of the key moment in the first leg as he fell under a challenge from Wojciech Szczesny at Emirates Stadium last month, which resulted in a red card for the Arsenal keeper. #INSERT type:image caption:Arjen Robben earned a late penalty with a tumble in the box which angered Arsene Wenger. END#

Former Chelsea winger Robben was again the subject in Wenger's postmatch news conference following his side's 3-1 aggregate defeat, as he failed in a first attempt to win a penalty with a tumble in the box before he secured a late spot-kick, which was saved by Arsenal keeper Lukasz Fabianski.

"Robben did well, he dived well," Wenger said. "We do not want to make this the trial of the referee, but I said this yesterday and it happened again. It is no surprise. We want the referee to make the right decisions, it's as simple as that.

"Robben is very good at getting the maximum of nothing and he is a great player and as well a very good diver, but it is part of it. He is a fantastic player, I would not deny that, he's one of the best players in the world, but he gets in front of a player and then he slows down and goes down.

"That's where we spoke about yesterday that the referee, if he gives him a yellow card on the first one when he goes down, he will not do it again."

Robben hit back at Wenger by suggesting the Arsenal boss should lick his wounds after another Champions League exit rather than singling him out for personal attacks.

"I always say if you are a big manager then take your loss," Robben said. "If you win be happy, but don’t start complaining about silly things. From a big manager you expect a little bit more. It was two penalties."

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