The very best managers in football have an incredible ability to deflect the attention away from their players after a defeat or poor performance. Arsene Wenger has long been a disciple of this philosophy, remaining unswervingly loyal to players who have let him down at key points during his spell in charge at Arsenal.

This week’s media storm over the conduct of Wenger’s captain, Cesc Fabregas, during Wednesday night’s 2-1 win over Everton raises an interesting question; should Arsene Wenger continue to protect players when they have done wrong?

There will be moments when a player does not need to be open to the flak of an angry manager as well as fellow team mates and the media, but there have been many occasions where Wenger has undoubtedly failed to set the record straight for players that have cost Arsenal, preferring instead to pretend he has not seen a key incident or to dispute, what has quite often been, irrefutable evidence.

Some managers decide a private admonishment is sufficient punishment for misbehaving players, a public denouncement an unrealistic sanction in a game where press conferences and interviews are so stringently monitored.

Yet knowing this, Wenger would rather pick a fight with Everton boss David Moyes than admit that Fabregas may have gone too far in his half-time protests to referee Lee Mason over the Toffees’ opening goal on Wednesday night, alleging his player was a victim of a ‘witch hunt’.

From an outside point of view, it is difficult not to treat the Spaniard with a great deal of suspicion – there have been enough incidents over recent seasons where his temperament has been brought into question.

However, Wenger knows that were he to openly criticise Fabregas over any of the recent misdemeanours or incidents which have tarnished the Spaniard’s image, it would be to essentially sign a pre-contract agreement at the Nou Camp for his want away captain. Whilst some may empathise with the delicacy of the situation, Wenger’s predicament is one completely of his own making.

The Arsenal head coach has always taken this laissez-faire approach to his players’ on field antics. When Fabregas was a youngster growing up at Highbury, he would look and see captain Patrick Vieira involve himself in all sorts of stupid altercations, picking up a scarcely believable ten red cards across his time at Highbury, and not hear so much as a word of negative feedback as a result. What sort of lesson is this for the young midfielder?

There may be an argument to suggest that different players require a velvet glove rather than an iron fist, but the problem is Wenger leaves you in no doubt that he would never publicly reprimand Abou Diaby for his brainless and costly reaction to Joey Barton’s tackle during the Gunners’ 4-4 draw with Newcastle at the weekend. He will not tell Fabregas to mend his tongue, in the same way he refused to admonish Patrick Vieira for his poor disciplinary record.

Observers laugh at Wenger’s insistence on player innocence. His statement that Croatian striker Eduardo dived in a Champions League qualifier against Celtic last season on account of his recently broken leg was one of the quotes of the year and an indication of the Frenchman’s odd outlook. From a winder perspective, it makes his self-righteous war on dangerous tackling difficult to swallow if Arsenal players are somehow immune from criticism.

That Wenger does not endear himself to the neutral football fan will be of no great concern to the Frenchman, but what impact will his continuing weakness have on the Arsenal squad in weeks and months to come?

It would be fair to conclude that a back tracking exercise with Fabregas may be out of the question – the chances are the temperamental Spaniard will be out of the exit door in the summer. However, there are chances for Wenger to change his approach if he so chooses. The manner in which he handles the development of young players such as Jack Wilshere, himself another temperamental figure, will be an interesting indication of how Wenger intends to deal with the conduct of his charges in future. If his player’s actions continue to cost the team, how can the Frenchman justify his silence?

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