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| Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger calls for the Premier League to take action against unsafe TV bunkers |
ARSENE WENGER has called for the Premier League and its clubs to take action against unsafe TV bunkers or risk a death in football.
The Arsenal manager was speaking after Alexis Sanchez fell into a cameraman positioned below the Carrow Road pitch after being pushed by Norwich's Ryan Bennett last Sunday.
Sanchez is now set for an extended spell on the sidelines thanks to his persistent hamstring injury where Wenger claims could have been partly caused by that collision.
But the Frenchman also fears something serious will happen unless cameramen are re-positioned.
"First of all it's dangerous to have a camera there," said Wenger yesterday. "He could have killed him. Secondly, he didn't need to push him like he did.
"I think the camera position was absolutely dangerous.
"Nobody suggests Alexis should have displaced his hamstring or back when he was pushed into the cameras on the side of the pitch. That did not shock anyone. That injury can come from that as well."
The Premier League said in a statement yesterday: "Player safety is of paramount importance. Guidance to clubs is that camera positions should be 2.25 metres from the field of play where possible.
"In line with club risk assessments, there should be padding in place as well as making sure the area around the camera position is clear of equipment."
It is understood the league have already written to Norwich about the matter.
Norwich last night declined to comment but Wenger will definitely be without Sanchez for a period of time starting with the home game with Sunderland today.
Arsenal now have a catalogue of injuries with a torn anterior knee ligament by Santi Cazorla sustained in the same game at Norwich their biggest concern.
Wenger, though, claims Cazorla was so badly injured he was given a yellow card for diving when in fact his knee gave way as he carried on.
"He was even booked for diving when his knee let him down, because he could not change direction. He wanted to cut back," said Wenger. "I don't understand how he carried on."
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| Norwich's Ryan Bennett pushing Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal into a TV bunker at Carrow Road |
Sam Allardyce has revealed the secret behind Sunderland's new-found defensive steel - boring his players to death.
Sunderland are bidding for a third successive win and clean sheet today and with the exception of the 6-2 thrashing at Everton, they have conceded just one goal from open play since Allardyce came in.
Players such as Seb Coates and Younes Kaboul, who endured a nightmare start to his Sunderland career, have improved immeasurably under him.
Allardyce puts that down to hours of work on the training ground with him when he's been preaching the art of defending.
"My particular life here is working with the back four, talking to them about their positioning, where they should be, what's the right body position, how deep you are, how wide you are," said Allardyce.
"I've spent a fair amount of time on all that. Call it repetition. Sadly, it gets a little bit boring for them."
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| Sam Allardyce has revealed the secret behind Sunderland new-found success is by boring his players |
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