Football
Mattias Karen, Arsenal correspondent 7y

Arsene Wenger: West Ham-Chelsea violence not sign of a wider problem

LONDON -- Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said he believes the violence that marred West Ham's midweek EFL Cup tie against Chelsea does not indicate a problem across the game in England.

The Football Association has launched an investigation into the violence, with the Metropolitan Police having confirmed that seven arrests were made.

Stewards and police in riot gear were forced to come between supporters squaring up in the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand in the final minutes of the first London derby to be played at the former Olympic venue.

Plastic bottles, coins and several chairs were thrown in the clashes, which Wenger warned could damage the chances of safe standing sections being introduced at English grounds.

Speaking at a news conference ahead of Saturday's game against Sunderland on Saturday, he said the scenes had left him surprised and disappointed.

But he said: "I don't believe there is a problem with hooliganism in England. You cannot say that one minor incident, I heard about 200 people, is a general problem in the country.

"West Ham is usually a very strong fan base, very motivated. And we are not used, in England, to face these kind of problems [of violence at matches] any more."

The issue of safe standing was also raised at Arsenal's annual general meeting on Monday, with chief executive Ivan Gazidis saying the club was "open minded" about the possibility.

And Wenger said: "Personally, I am in favour of the resurgence of standing opportunities behind the goals, but what happened is not a very good advert to come back to standing.

"I feel the closer you are to the positions of the players, the more passionate you are about it. It would allow lower prices, because you could get more spectators inside the stadiums, and maybe a more passionate atmosphere."

The focus will not be on the London Stadium this weekend as West Ham are visiting Everton, whose manager Ronald Koeman has welcomed suggestions those found guilty of inciting trouble are given life bans.

"It is not what we like and I think the club made the right decision," the Dutchman said. "If you find the people who made those incidents, then keep them out of the stadiums."

Crystal Palace counterpart Alan Pardew, who was in charge of West Ham between 2003 and 2006, concurred with Koeman.

"They are scenes you do not want to see," he said. "The West Ham fans are a fantastic set and the mindless thugs that spoilt that game are spoiling it for everyone over there because they are all trying to settle in to a new stadium.

"I think West Ham's move this morning was probably the right thing -- get rid of these people and let the genuine fans enjoy the game."

Hull manager Mike Phelan's playing career spanned from 1979 to 1995, during an era where outbreaks of hooliganism occurred more frequently across the country.

"Nobody wants to revert back to what we saw many, many years ago," he said. "Stadiums have improved, facilities have improved. It's not really for me to comment about what goes on at other clubs but from a personal point of view we don't want to see all this nonsense coming back.

"We know football can be tribal, we know it can be opinionated, but to resort to violence is the wrong way to go about it."

Information from Press Association was used in this report.

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