22 METROSPORT Friday, September 25, 2009 D Wenger hits back after tapping-up allegations Arsene Wenger has reacted ang- rily to claims he unsettled Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh and has challenged the French clubs presi- dent to a public meeting over his al- legations. Arsenal boss Wenger is an admirer of the Morocco striker and was strongly linked during the summer with a move for the 7million-rated 25-year-old, who has less than a year left on his contract. Jean-Louis Triaud has questioned Wengers conduct by suggesting he publicly declared an interest in Chamahk before telling Bordeaux effectively accusing him of tapping- up the player. And he is reluctant to do business with Arsenal if they come back for the striker in January, when the gun- ners would hope for a cut-price deal of around 1.5m. Wenger said: The communication between the president of Bordeaux and myself is very clear I kept him informed on everything that hap- pened. If he is ready to make a comment, Im ready to sit down with him and explain to you what he said. Then I will answer eye to eye. I dont agree at all. Its very difficult to understand any statement of that kind from him. Im ready to make a press conference with him. Im not angry because I look in the mirror and know what I did. You will see what I did. Im sure the president of Bordeaux will agree with what I say. Wenger has Theo Walcott back in the squad for the Premier League clash at Fulham tomorrow following a side strain but Manuel Almunia is struggling with a stomach injury.Wanted man: Wenger is a big admirer of Maroune Chamakh Picture: AFP Winner: Toure Hughes going in search of silverware Manchester city boss Mark hughes has pledged to continue picking his best players in the carling cup. hughes has made no secret of the fact he wants to bring silverware to the club as soon as possible and fielded the likes of carlos tevez and Gareth Barry in the third- round win over Fulham on Wednesday. another summer signing, captain Kolo toure, scored the extra-time winner at eastlands and hughes said: We will keep putting out strong sides. We had a decent crowd in and it is important we show respect to them and to the competition. city are among 13 top-flight clubs through to the last 16 and hughes added: there are a number of Premier League sides in the next round and this cup has taken on great significance in recent times. Maybe it is one of those that clubs feel is winnable as the league title is out of reach to all but a select few. u PoLice have dropped an investigation into a clash between city striker craig Bellamy and a fan who ran on to the pitch at old trafford. the supporter was pushed in the face by Bellamy after he had invaded the pitch in sundays Manchester derby. the supporter, Jake Joseph clarke, 21, of chorley, Lancashire, will appear before trafford magistrates on september 30 charged with going on to a playing area without lawful authority or excuse. SOCCER preMier league By Mark CurTis STRIKER Dirk Kuyt has hailed the impact new signing Glen Johnson has made at Liverpool. The right-back, who moved from Portsmouth in the summer, has impressed for the Reds so far in an attacking role but was criticised for several questionable performances on England duty. However, ahead of tomorrows clash with Hull, Kuyt said: I think Glen has done really well. He was a big signing for us but has shown straight from the start he is very important both defensively and in attack. He is still young and I think he will only get better and better. u Burnley manager Owen Coyle insists he will be thinking only of three points, not of last seasons Carling Cup run, when his side visit Tottenham tomorrow. The Clarets lost 6-4 on aggregate to spurs last term despite having beaten Chelsea, arsenal and Fulham on their way to the semi- finals. Coyle, whose side are looking for their first away win, said: its always going to invoke memories because it was such a terrific experience. We cant affect that now, though, only affect what is in front of us. u SvEn-Goran Eriksson admits he feels personally let down by Sol Campbells departure from notts County. The former England defender quit County on Wednesday, just five weeks and one game after signing a five-year deal reportedly worth 40,000 a week. Eriksson said: I am very disappointed, very much so because we signed him and we thought we should have him for longer. [I feel] a little bit [let down], but I think everybody has the same feeling the players, the coaching staff, the directors and the fans because he is a big name and an important player. u Walked out: Campbell FOOTBALLDigest BOlTOn midfielder sean Davis could be ruled out of the rest of the season after undergoing knee surgery. The 30-year-old sustained cartilage damage during defeat by liverpool last month. Bolton boss gary Megson said: sean will be given as long as it takes to regain his fitness. it is a disappointment but injuries happen and we have to deal with it. u Campbell let me down, says Eriksson Burnley take a trip down memory Lane Kuyt gives Glen Kop thumbs-up still a success: alonso last year fORmula OnE SingapORE Flavio ban too harsh BernIe eCCLesTone has revealed his friendship with Flavio Briatore has suffered in the wake of the singapore grand Prix race-fixing scandal. Briatore was handed a lifetime ban from motorsport over his role in the conspiracy which resulted in nelson Piquet Jr deliberately crashing his renault to help team- mate Fernando Alonso win the race. ecclestone who co-owns QPr with the former renault boss feels the punishment was too severe and said: Hes not talking to me. He thinks I should have defended him. I couldnt. There were three people who knew what was going on and that is it. Those people have been dealt with, in my view quite harshly. on reflection it wasnt necessary. It was too much. Definitely too much. Alonso: My 2008 win was legit renaULts Fernando alonso has defended his win in last years singapore GP as a legitimate success despite a race-fixing scandal which led to a suspended ban for the Formula one team. speaking ahead of sundays race at the same venue, the spaniard grew more agitated when pressed on his involvement in a race he won after a deliberate crash by Brazilian team-mate nelson Piquet Jr. i regard it as a win, yes, said alonso, who again denied knowing about any plot. My interpretation of events is how could i win the race. it [Piquets crash] was very early in the race which still had a long way to go. the car was performing well and i did not make any mistakes. Governing body the Fia handed a life ban to former renault boss Flavio Briatore for his role in the scandal, a five-year ban on deputy Pat symonds and a suspended ban on the team. i was happy to collaborate with the Fia at the meeting and am also happy that everything is clear that i was not involved in what happened, added alonso. thats now in the past and its time to move on. its singapore 2009 not 2008. its good that the team can put this behind us and can concentrate on the future. nEWCaSTLE are on the verge of signing Marlon Harewood on loan from aston villa. The striker is expected to join on a two- month deal as boss Chris Hughton looks to bolster his attacking options as he pushes for promotion from the Championship. We are still waiting for paperwork to be completed, said Hughton. 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