Arsene Wenger calls for FA ban after Arsenal player Clichy's suspected broken leg

Arsene Wenger called on the FA to set up a panel with the power to ban players retrospectively for dangerous tackles after Arsenal full-back Gael Clichy left the Reebok with a suspected broken leg.

Arsenal manager Wenger saw his team go to the top of the Premier League with a win over Bolton, but the Gunners' brilliant display was marred when Clichy was carried off after a tackle by Kevin Davies.

Davies was booked for the challenge, which Wenger claimed he didn't see.

But Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas claimed the Bolton striker should have been sent off, while Wanderers boss Gary Megson described the tackle as "fair".

Arsenal lost Eduardo last season with a horrific broken leg, while the FA were powerless to extend a three-match ban handed out to Newcastle's Danny Guthrie's last week following the tackle which earned him a red card and left Hull's Craig Fagan with a broken leg.

Wenger said: "There has to be a resource which allows the FA to act when there are mistimed tackles.

"I have to be careful, because I didn't see Davies's tackle on Clichy.

"All I will say is that it is a shin injury so it must have been high.

"The speed of the game is such that sometimes referees can miss the intent of players.

"I will have to see the tackle again before I can comment, but we are just hopeful that the injury needs a matter of days rather than weeks because we don't know the results of the x-rays on Clichy's leg."

Spaniard Fabregas had no such reservations, saying: "Last season we had a player sent off for much less than the challenge on Clichy.

"After seeing the damage to Clichy's leg you have to ask why it wasn't the same punishment."

Wanderers boss Megson countered: "Kevin's tackle was nothing - in fact he shouldn't have even been booked.

"Yes, he's an aggressive player but he played the ball fairly. It was a proper football challenge.

"But we always hear the same thing when Arsenal come here."

Wenger added: "We have no problem with people being physical when they play us - that is a charming part of the game.

"But I don't call kicking people being physical. That kind of thing is outside the rules of the game.

Bolton tried to intimidate us."

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