Ronaldo is too arrogant, says Wenger

Arsene Wenger claims Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrogance is the reason he is being targeted by the Barclays Premier League’s boot boys.

Ronaldo was the victim of a terrible two-footed challenge by former team-mate Alan Smith in United’s victory over Newcastle on Wednesday night and while Wenger says more should be done to stamp out tough tackling, he believes the Portuguese brings a lot of his rough-house treatment on himself with his ‘provocation’.

“With Manchester United I am a bit cautious because sometimes I feel they get too much protection and sometimes they don't get enough,” said the Arsenal boss.

“Ronaldo is a specific example of that.

“Sometimes his arrogance is provocative — and his class as well.”

Wenger insisted that he had never, in all his time as a manager, told any of his players “to kick a player" but claimed he was fearful that although the Premier League is "less dirty" than when he arrived at Arsenal in 1996, some teams deliberately go out to "hurt" their opponents and that, at present, the punishments they receive are not sufficient.

To that end, Wenger is proposing "a special committee to analyse" horrific challenges and decide whether, in some cases, a three-match ban for a red card is sufficient punishment for the crime.

"Because I feel that in some tackles 10 (matches) is not enough," he said of the need for such a committee which, he added, should not include anyone currently working within the game.

"Personally I am very, very aggressive with the intention of the tackle. An accident can happen when two people go for the ball, but it is very rare.”