Wenger Asks Gunners to be Wary of Newcastle’s ‘Play-Acting’

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has cautioned his players, ahead of the Gunners' next fixture against Newcastle, to look out for the Magpies' play-acting, which had earlier resulted in one of their players being sent off, according to an ESPN report.

Ivorian striker Gervinho, in Arsenal's very first match of the season, was shown a straight red card after he raised his hands to midfielder Joey Barton (currently QPR captain) following an argument between the two. Later the Gunners' defensive midfielder Alex Song was banned for three matches for stamping on Barton.

Furthermore, during the Magpies' Tyne-Wear derby against Sunderland, Stephane Sessegnon (Sunderland striker) was sent off for raising his hand against Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tiote.

After these incidents, Wenger hopes his boys have learnt a lesson and will act a bit more responsibly in the future.

"Gervinho was shocked because he felt he didn't do a lot. I think he learned his lesson in the first game and it's better than after 20. It's better to know what you are facing. If you want to play abroad, work abroad, then you have to adapt to the local culture," ESPN quoted Wenger as saying.

Wenger also expressed his frustrations with Liverpool striker Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, who was awarded a penalty in the Gunners last fixture against the Reds.

"It [play-acting] annoys me, but it can happen with one of my players as well. For example, Suarez got the penalty last week. It was no penalty. Nobody touched him. Where they go overboard is that nobody touched him. I can understand if they push the ball too far, but when no one touches him? Then when they roll down the sock, take the shin pad out like he has been kicked like mad. It is a bit overboard. We don't need that," he added.

Arsenal, who have been performing well in their last five games, will be hoping to beat the Magpies so they can increase the pressure on third-placed Spurs, who have lost three successive Premier League games.