Birmingham City defender Martin Taylor believes Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger contributed to the criticism levelled at him following the broken-leg injury suffered by Eduardo da Silva.

In the aftermath of the match Arsenal boss Wenger called for Taylor to be banned for life, although he later retracted the comments.

The 28-year-old has received death threats, but figures within the game were quick to support him.

"Personally it (Wenger's words) hasn't changed my view because I know it was an accident," Taylor told The Independent in his first interview since the incident.

"But it has affected the way people react to it. Arsene Wenger is one of the most highly-regarded managers in the game and people listen to what he says.

"They look at it in a different light because someone who is so learned has said something like that."