Arsene Wenger hits back at Jose Mourinho over Lacazette jibe

Oli Fisher
Mourinho and Wenger: Go head-to-head

Arsene Wenger has hit back at Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho over comments he made about Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette.

After being withdrawn at half-time in the Gunners’ 5-0 win over Huddersfield, Wenger had ruled Lacazette out of the game against United with a groin injury.

However, the Frenchman was in the starting XI to face the Red Devils, scoring Arsenal’s goal in the 3-1 defeat.

Mourinho aimed at dig at Wenger, by suggesting he had not been completely truthful in his assessment of Lacazette.

The United boss said: “Do you want the truth? The truth is Bailly, no chance. Jones and Fellaini a chance. Zlatan a big chance & Matic is injured but will play. No stories of Lacazette [or] Silva. All the truth.”

Wenger responded to the Portuguese by insisting his comments on Lacazette were based entirely on what he had been told by Arsenal’s medical department.

“I thought he wouldn’t play but in the end he could,” said the Arsenal boss. “What did you want me to do? Leave him at home?

“I’m always honest. I thought really he wouldn’t play. That’s what I was told. He had a test on Friday morning, then even when he went to the game we weren’t sure if he would play.

“But he tried and he played. That’s part of football.”

“I don’t worry about that,” he said. “We have a chance to win it so let’s give it a go. We go to direct knockout now. It’s important we give everything to win it.

“That’s why it’s important in these rounds that we give some young players experience.”