Thu, Mar 19, 2009 page20

• THE FA CUP: Gunners go through in blaze of controversy

  • AFP
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  Cesc Fabregas has been accused of spitting at Hull City’s assistant manager after Arsenal progressed to the last four of the FA Cup in a blaze of controversy.

  Late goals from Robin van Persie and William Gallas sent Arsenal into a Wembley semi-final with Chelsea after Nicky Barmby had given Hull an early lead.

  Hull boss Phil Brown — justifiably it seemed — complained that his side had been denied a replay by the officials’ failure to spot that Gallas was in an offside position when he nodded in the winner, six minutes from time.

  

  Hull City’s Geovanni, right, attempts a shot as Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, center, dives for the ball during their FA Cup quarter-final match at the Emirates Stadium in London on Tuesday.

  PHOTO: AFP

  But the main focus of his anger was the currently sidelined Fabregas.

  Brown alleged that the Spanish midfielder spat at Hull’s assistant manager, Brian Horton, in the tunnel, just after Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger had walked through without shaking hands with his counterpart.

  “You’re not going to get the rub of the green when you come to the Emirates,” Brown said. “But for their club captain, Cesc Fabregas, to spit at my assistant manager at the end of the game just shows you what this club [Arsenal] is about.”

  Brown later modified his comments by saying that Fabregas had spat at Horton’s feet, while the Gunners skipper categorically denied that the alleged incident had taken place.

  “I have never done this in my whole career on the pitch, so why would I do it when I am not even playing?” Fabregas said. “I can understand the frustration of losing a game to a dubious goal, that has happened to me many times in my career as well. But this is not the fault of me or any of the Arsenal players.”

  Wenger, meanwhile, maintained that Gallas’ winning goal was legitimate because a deflection off Hull goalkeeper Boaz Myhill had played the French defender onside and, perhaps inevitably, the Frenchman said he had “not seen” the alleged incident involving Fabregas.

  None of which cut any ice with Brown, who was convinced the referee had succumbed to pressure from the home crowd.

  “It’s an absolute disgrace to tell you the truth,” Brown said.

  Hull had taken the lead after Arsenal’s defense hesitated when confronted with a long ball from Andy Dawson, allowing Barmby to find the net with a volley and the help of a deflection off Johan Djourou.

  Gradually, the Gunners began to assert themselves and efforts from Andrei Arshavin and Abou Diaby went close, before van Persie forced Hull keeper Myhill into a fine save with a perfectly executed free-kick from 25m.

  The Dutch striker was not to be denied, however, finally finding the net with 16 minutes left thanks to the persistence of substitute Nicklas Bendtner.

  The big Dane’s dogged determination enabled him to work the ball to Arshavin, who provided the cutback from which van Persie fired Arsenal level.

  Arsenal avoided a replay with six minutes left, when Gallas headed home his much-disputed goal.
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