Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger refuses to backdown from his criticism of Stoke City defender Ryan Shawcross over the tackle that left Aaron Ramsey with a badly broken leg.
In the immediate aftermath of last Saturday's game at the Britannia Stadium, which Arsenal went on to win 3-1 to re-ignite their title challenge, Wenger condemned the challenge as "horrendous and unacceptable", while also criticising Stoke's overall approach.
"I stand by what I said 100%," Wenger declared. "I knew exactly what would happen the whole week, that was quite easy to predict."
Wenger continued: "I am sitting here like I am in a tribunal. What do I have to defend? Is it a football game or something else?
"I can understand people want to be committed against us, and I have no problem with that.
"I love the commitment of the English game. I don't want to change that and it makes the game even more attractive, but high commitment demands fair intention as well."
Wenger added: "I admire a great technical tackle as much as a creative pass.
"A tackle is an art in itself - that means you always have your eye on the ball, never with a high foot, in your tackle you can already make a pass. To close your eyes and go in too physical, that does not mean it is intention, but there is danger.
"Tackling is an art you do not want to get out of the game. We have some good tacklers in this league, some who are not good - but that does not mean you go into it trying to break a leg. It is not Arsenal against the rest of the world. What I say here is valid for the Arsenal players as well.
"I want the Arsenal players to go into the tackles like everybody else, to go into the tackles and be committed. What I say it not just for Stoke or Arsenal players, it is for everybody. I defend football. It is not that we are apart from anybody else. We are the same.
"I am continuing to defend the values that I believe are important for our club and football. That doesn't mean we are angels and everyone else is the devil. It is for everybody."