Carling Cup News: Harry Redknapp believes Samir Nasri dived to win a penalty at White Hart Lane
Arsenal beat Tottenham 4-1 in the Carling Cup on Tuesday in extra time at White Hart Lane, and as the match ended level in normal time, controversy erupted in extra-time. Arsenal’s Samir Nasri won a penalty – one that was deemed
simulation by Harry Redknapp amongst others, though unfortunately the referee was fully conned.
Nasri made a surging run into the box and in an effort to close him down, Sebastian Bassong put pressure on him and the winger went down. The referee subsequently gave in to Arsenal’s appeals and gave a penalty to the side. Nasri
quickly got back up and took the spot kick himself to give his team a 2-1 lead early in extra time.
Nasri was once again on the score sheet when Arsenal earned another spot kick. This time it was Steven Caulker who in an effort to stop Marouane Chamakh pulled him down to the ground. Later on Andrei Arshavin completed the scoring
with a fourth late in the game.
After the match, Redknapp said that the first penalty should not have been given and that it turned the match in Arsenal’s favour. Redknapp added that the second penalty was blatant and Caulker was playing for the first time against
a quality opposition so he was vulnerable to such a mistake.
Redknapp said, "I thought the first penalty was harsh. I thought Nasri dived.”
"The second was blatant. It was Caulker's first appearance anywhere near this level and was a good experience for him."
Tottenham defender Bassong also said that the penalty was too harsh and that Nasri had gone down too easily. He said that after the match Nasri himself admitted that there was barely any contact between the two of them.
Bassong said, "He went down too easily, I didn't think it was a penalty. He told me afterwards that I barely touched him.”
Bassong added, "It leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I touched Nasri's chest but I did not grab him. I have seen the video and from my point of view it was not a penalty."
Harry Redknapp has done wonders with his Spurs team and now has taken them to the UEFA Champions League. The manager added that his team gave a good account of themselves but playing beyond 90 minutes was probably too much for
his young team.
"Once we got to extra-time, four of my players were cramped up and out on their feet, I knew it was going to be a difficult half-hour," he said.
"I was picking the players I needed to play - I can't keep playing the same people, you end up killing them off in the end.”
The Spurs boss though did take some positives from the match and said that despite the loss, there were some good things to take away for his team. Identifying a couple of potential stars in his team, Redknapp said that playing
against a quality team like Arsenal was a good experience for players who have not had a taste of football at the highest level.
"It was a new experience for guys like Kyle Naughton, and Sandro looked all right, he gets around the pitch. I think he is going to be a good player.
"I thought it was going to be tough when I saw their team as they looked a bit stronger than us."
Harry Redknapp took over Tottenham in 2008 when the team looked destined to go down to the Coca Cola Championship. The man also known as Harry Houdini not only saved them from the drop but ensured a top half finish. Next season,
the team went one step further and knocked off strong challenges from Aston Villa, Manchester City and Liverpool to get the 4th spot in the League. As a result, Spurs went through the Champions League qualification stages and are now playing in
the tournament proper.
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