Wenger sickened by Ramsey horror injury

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STOKE, England, Feb 28, 2010 (AFP) - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said he was left sickened by the horrific broken leg suffered by Aaron Ramsey that will rule the teenager out of the game for months.

Wales international Ramsey was stretchered off in the second half of Arsenal's 3-1 win at Stoke, which moves Wenger's team to within three points of Premier League leaders Chelsea, after an ugly challenge by Ryan Shawcross.

Shawcross is facing a three-match suspension for the challenge in Saturday's game, but the Frenchman called for the former Manchester United defender to be hit with a tougher punishment after an injury that left Arsenal's players distraught.

Wenger has already seen Eduardo and Abou Diaby suffer career-threatening injuries during his time at Arsenal and he wants an example made of Shawcross, who learned just hours after the incident that he had been called up for England's mid-week friendly against Egypt.

"Is a three-match ban enough? It is just ridiculous," Wenger said. "It's beyond words. It was an horrendous tackle.

"I'm very sad. To lose a player of that quality at 19-years-of age when he's just started his career is just horrendous.

"It's the third player we have lost to tackles that are just not acceptable and I'm shocked.

"It's not football for me and it's not what I like in the game. If we have to live with that, I refuse to do that.

"Of course (the Football Association need to act). I can do nothing about it. The players are professional and they have to respect the rules and respect each other.

"Players who don't do it need to be punished. This is a young fantastic talent and it's sad that a player of his talent has been kicked out like that."

Arsenal are in a strong position as they look to win the title for the first time since 2004, but Wenger said that the victory had been completely overshadowed by Ramsey's injury.

"I cannot even enjoy this victory because of what has happened. I am shocked because that is not football," the Frenchman said.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis leapt to Shawcross's defence and said the player had been left distraught by what had happened.

"There is no way he'd go out and break someone's leg. Never in a million years," said Pulis.

"It was a bad challenge in the way Ryan caught him. Everyone at Stoke wishes Aaron a speedy recovery and as a fellow Welshman I am devastated at what has happened.

"Ryan came off the pitch brokenhearted. He was crying his eyes out and his mum took him straight home."

Stoke had taken the lead courtesy of Danny Pugh's first Premier League goal before Nicklas Bendtner headed an equaliser.

Cesc Fabregas put Arsenal ahead from the penalty spot in stoppage time after Pugh had handled inside his area before Thomas Vermaelen wrapped up the points with the third goal.

The injury is a huge blow to Wales as it will almost certainly rule Ramsey out of the start of their qualifying campaign for the 2012 European Championships, which begins later this year.