Arsene Wenger hails Marcelo Bielsa’s sportsmanship after Leeds United boss gifts Aston Villa a goal

Former Arsenal manager believes Bielsa’s decision to allow Villa to score against his side was all the more impressive given it came in the middle of a promotion battle

Monday 29 April 2019 08:39 BST

Arsene Wenger believes Marcelo Bielsa’s decision was all the more impressive due to Leeds’ promotion hopes (Action Images)

Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa's sportsmanlike decision to allow Aston Villa to score unopposed in Sunday's 1-1 draw is all the more remarkable given what is at stake for the Championship club, former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has said.

Leeds, who are looking to secure promotion to the Premier League, netted the opener through Mateusz Klich in controversial circumstances as Villa's Jonathan Kodjia lay injured on the pitch, sparking a melee.

Villa's Anwar Al Ghazi was sent off for his role in the ensuing protests after which Bielsa asked his players to allow the visitors to score unchallenged when the game was restarted.

"It is a remarkable gesture. They are playing to come up to the Premier League and there is something at stake... the whole world has to watch that," Wenger, who left Arsenal in May last year after 22 years in charge, told BeIN Sports.

The draw meant that second-placed Sheffield United joined leaders Norwich City in earning promotion to the top flight while third-placed Leeds' hopes lie in winning the Championship play-offs, with West Bromwich Albion and Villa also involved.

Arsene Wenger's best XI

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1/11Arsene Wenger's best XI

Arsene Wenger's best XI

Jens Lehmann

Going unbeaten in the league in his first season, 2003-04, was a fine start to Lehmann's Arsenal career. He would go on to win the 2005 FA Cup but was sent off in the 2006 Champions League final as Arsenal lost to Barcelona - the closest Wenger has come to winning the European Cup.

Arsene Wenger's best XI

Lauren

Signed from Mallorca in 2000 for a fee in excess of £7million, the Cameroon international soon established himself as Wenger's premier right-back. He was one of the first names on the team-sheet for the 2001-02 double season and played a big part in Arsenal's 'Invincibles' campaign. He left the club in 2007 after making almost 250 appearances in his seven-year spell in north London.

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Arsene Wenger's best XI

Sol Campbell

The signing of Campbell on a free transfer from Tottenham remains one of the most controversial moves in the history of the Premier League. The England international surprised the footballing fraternity with the move but his decision, and that of Wenger to poach a player from Arsenal's fierce local rivals, would be vindicated as he was a pivotal part of the Invincibles' unbeaten defence.

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Arsene Wenger's best XI

Laurent Koscielny

The Frenchman joined as a virtually unknown player in 2010 but he would soon establish himself as an important member of Wenger's defence. He scored the equaliser as Arsenal came from 2-0 down to beat Hull in the 2014 FA Cup final to end a run of 10 years without a trophy and was labelled as one of the world's best defenders by Wenger as he developed at the Emirates Stadium.

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Arsene Wenger's best XI

Ashley Cole

Not strictly a Wenger signing but Cole deserves his place in this side having been given his chance to shine by the Frenchman. He came through the ranks and was given his first-team debut at the age of 18, going on to become one of the best left-backs in the world. Two Premier League titles, including the unbeaten season of 2003-04, and three FA Cups would be his reward before an acrimonious move to rivals Chelsea would tarnish his Arsenal legacy.

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Arsene Wenger's best XI

Cesc Fabregas

Signed as a 16-year-old from Barcelona's fabled academy in 2003, Fabregas was soon playing first-team football with Arsenal and remains their youngest-ever player and youngest-ever goalscorer. He became one of the main focal points of Wenger's team and remains one of his biggest success stories but could never manage to help the club win the Premier League for a fourth time before his return to the Nou Camp in 2011.

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Arsene Wenger's best XI

Patrick Vieira

Vieira technically joined the club in the closing days of Bruce Rioch's time in charge and before Wenger took the reins at Highbury. But Vieira admitted it was Wenger's impending arrival which saw him join a club he would go on to captain. Another member of the 2003-04 'Invincibles' campaign, his tough-tackling, full-blooded approach won many admirers and earned more than the odd red card.

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Arsene Wenger's best XI

Freddie Ljungberg

Marking his debut with a goal against bitter rivals Manchester United endeared the Sweden international to the Arsenal fans instantly - and Ljungberg would go on to become a vital ingredient in Wenger's side. Signed after plenty of scouting, Ljungberg made his mark, scoring 71 goals in his 313 Arsenal appearances, earning him the 11th spot in arsenal.com's 'Gunners' Greatest 50 Players' list as he collected two Premier League titles and a hat-trick of FA Cups.

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Arsene Wenger's best XI

Alexis Sanchez

The Chile forward just pips Arsenal's club-record signing Mesut Ozil to a spot in the front three of Wenger's greatest signings. Brought in from Barcelona in 2014 his mixture of tenacity, skill and goalscoring ability saw him become a very popular figure among the home fans at the Emirates Stadium. He scored 25 goals in his debut season including one in the 4-0 FA Cup final win over Aston Villa as Arsenal claimed a record 12th victory in the competition but left for Manchester United under a cloud in January 2018.

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Arsene Wenger's best XI

Thierry Henry

The most obvious inclusion up front is Henry - the France forward who is Arsenal's all-time leading scorer having notched 228 goals across two spells with the club. After an unimpressive stint at Juventus, Henry joined compatriot Wenger and was converted into an out-and-out striker and would never look back. Henry was the Premier League's top goalscorer in four different seasons, winning seven honours with the Gunners.

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Arsene Wenger's best XI

Robert Pires

Having played his part in France's World Cup and European Championship successes of 1998 and 2000, Pires arrived at Arsenal with a winner's pedigree. And, despite an indifferent start, he would maintain that during a six-year spell at the club which saw him score 84 goals, some of them very memorable, as he played his part in one of the most successful periods in Arsenal's history.

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The fourth and final spot is yet to be decided with Derby County, Middlesbrough and Bristol City all in contention.

Wenger said Villa had erred by taking their foot off the gas with a player down injured and expecting Leeds to kick the ball out of play.

"Only the referee can stop the game. Villa should not have stopped to play. Leeds took advantage of it and that is where they were guilty," the Frenchman added.

"It is a kind of fair play that is usually on the football pitch. Only the ref can stop the game but it is remarkable from Bielsa."

Reuters

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