Almunia bemoans physical Tigers

Arsenal goalkeeper hits out after vital victory at Emirates

Last updated: 21st December 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Almunia bemoans physical Tigers

Almunia: Hit out

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Arsenal keeper Manuel Almunia has bemoaned the physical approach of some of Hull City's players after the Gunners beat the Tigers on Saturday.

Arsene Wenger's side beat Hull 3-0 at the Emirates to maintain their push at the top of the table, sitting six points behind leaders Chelsea with a game in hand.

But Saturday's clash was marred by a mass brawl before half-time after Samir Nasri's challenge on Richard Garcia, which earned the Arsenal man a yellow card.

Stephen Hunt was one of those who piled in following the incident and Alumina also clashed with the same player during the game.

But the Arsenal keeper said winning was the main thing after the Gunners had been held at Burnley in midweek.

Not nice

Almunia said: "It is not nice to see players fighting each other. But everybody is sensitive and have their own character. When someone touches a part of your body you react on the pitch. It is natural.

"Two or three of their players tried to disturb our game. That is OK. If they don't know how to play football, it is not our problem.

"They were not all too aggressive. But it is only a few who were very nasty. People react. I did it a couple of times with Hunt. I have nothing against him but it is not nice to play these type of players."

He added: "The main thing was winning. Our team was not playing with confidence following the last match. It was a bad result at Burnley and we did not play our best up there.

"We saw some good character against a good, aggressive team. We have to translate this attitude away from home.

"At the end of the season, there will be three teams fighting for the title. It will be one of the tightest at the top for years."