Wenger hits out at Birmingham City fans over 'Martin Taylor' chant

Oct 19 2009 By Colin Tattum

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has hit out at Birmingham City fans for chanting 'there's only Martin Taylor' during Saturday's game at the Emirates Stadium.

Wenger was furious that the song was sung when Theo Walcott was down and requiring treatment after a hard tackle by Liam Ridgewell.

"That's frankly atrocious," he fumed. "They will not be remembered for the quality of their taste with those kinds of remarks. I didn't say a word. I just thought 'that's low'."

Eduardo, injured, was watching from the stands.

Wenger continued: "I don't know how he felt about the chants. I just put that in the ranks of stupidity. You want to forget about it and not talk too much about it because there's not a lot to say. People like that, one starts to say something stupid, everybody follows, even intelligent people. People lose their identity together, and their sense of responsibility."

As much as Wenger believes it was a deliberate taunt at that moment, Blues fans first aired the chant at the start of the match and again at the end.

Since the sickening incident in February 2008 when Eduardo suffered a leg break and ankle dislocation after a challenge by Taylor, they have rallied behind the defender primarily because of the way he was vilified by all and sundry, not least by Wenger.

They have chanted his name during a number of other Blues games in such manner, including the first one after the 2-2 draw when he wasn't playing due to the red card suspension.

Alex McLeish said: "I never heard it. We don't condone that kind of singing but it's something I didn't hear.

"Our fans gave us great away support, but I wasn't aware of what they were singing."

Taylor was not in the Blues squad at the Emirates Stadium. He suffered an ankle injury in pre-season and has not figured since.