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Blackburn boss Allardyce: Arsenal were dirtiest in league

Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce has reminded Arsene Wenger he won the title with Arsenal with the league's dirtiest team!

Arsenal's 2001-02 Double winners finished bottom of the Premier League Fair Play table with six red cards and 77 yellows.

Big Sam said: "If I have to remind Arsene about his own team that used to win the league - it was also the dirtiest team.

"They had more sendings off and bookings than anyone else ever before.

"Arsenal had players like Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit, Kevin Campbell and Martin Keown and they would mix it anyway you wanted to."

Allardyce admits Wenger has changed his philosophy over the years but feels it has played into his hands.

His record against the Frenchman during his days at Bolton and Blackburn shows he must be doing something right against the Gunners.

He added: "Arsene's change of tactics from that day to this are remarkable.

"He has gone from that team and changed it into a side bred on getting the ball down and passing and moving. But it is still not as good as that team he used to have because they could do it any way you wanted to win the league and the cup. It caused anyone huge fear whenever you faced them because you wondered what way can we play to beat them.

"Now there is a way to beat them because I've done that many times.

"They are not without players that aren't physically capable. Don't worry about that.

"Don't be sucked in by Arsene's talk that they're a nice, pretty team."

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