Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger stood by his charge that  Stoke City defender Ryan Shawcross' tackle that broke midfielder Aaron Ramsey’s leg in two places was “horrendous and unacceptable."

“I stand by what I said 100 percent,” Wenger said. “I knew exactly what would happen the whole week, that was quite easy to predict. I am sitting here now like I am in a tribunal. What do I have to defend? Is it a football game or something else?"

He said he didn't want tackling removed from the game. He just wanted to eliminate the high tackles that are so dangerous. “It is not Arsenal against the rest of the world. What I say here is valid for the Arsenal players as well."