Arsenal captain Cesc Fàbregas accuses Ipswich Town of 'rugby' tactics following Carling Cup semi-final defeat
Cesc Fàbregas, the Arsenal captain, has said his side must deal with whatever "rugby" tactics teams throw at them - and warned Ipswich Town they will be handed a real football lesson in the second leg of their Carling Cup semi-final at Emirates Stadium.
Ipswich, who were thrashed 7-0 at Chelsea in the FA Cup on Saturday, battled to a narrow 1-0 advantage after a late strike from Tamas Priskin in Wednesday's first leg at Portman Road, where new manager Paul Jewell watched from the stands.
Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, labelled his team "naive" with "no spark or creativity" as a strong side struggled to breakdown the Championship strugglers, who last week sacked Roy Keane.
Fàbregas - in the starting XI along with England duo Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott - accepts Arsenal have to learn to cope with all situations, having been undone by a long ball from Colin Healy which split their centre-backs and set Priskin through to score what could yet prove a crucial strike.
The Spaniard, however, has insisted it will be a whole different ball game for the second leg in a fortnight's time as Arsenal aim for their first trophy since 2005.
"I don't know it if it is long ball or it is a rugby kick, but it worked for them," Fàbregas said.
Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, labelled his team "naive" with "no spark or creativity" as a strong side struggled to breakdown the Championship strugglers, who last week sacked Roy Keane.
Fàbregas - in the starting XI along with England duo Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott - accepts Arsenal have to learn to cope with all situations, having been undone by a long ball from Colin Healy which split their centre-backs and set Priskin through to score what could yet prove a crucial strike.
The Spaniard, however, has insisted it will be a whole different ball game for the second leg in a fortnight's time as Arsenal aim for their first trophy since 2005.
"I don't know it if it is long ball or it is a rugby kick, but it worked for them," Fàbregas said.
"In England, a lot of teams play like that and it works for them, they create chances like that and it is their football.
"We just have to put the ball on the floor and try to play football, that is what we do.
"I can only remember two opportunities for them, but it was from a long, long ball because playing football they could not really get behind us or attack us.
"It is a bit disappointing because I think we were the much better team.
"Credit to them because they played well, but Arsenal made the football, the other team refused to play football, they were lucky to score with a long ball.
"But it was one of those nights and now we have to make it at the Emirates in two weeks."
Fàbregas added: "It is a 1-0, and of course we did not want to lose, but it is not a 3-0 or 4-0 so we are confident at home we can make it back.
"It is not the same to play at Stamford Bridge as it is to come here.
"Here they play in front of their fans, they are more motivated, the pitch is not as good as Stamford Bridge, so they play their game.
"They know how to do it and did it very well, so credit to them.
"Now we will see how they cope at the Emirates against us.
"We are confident we can do it there."
"We just have to put the ball on the floor and try to play football, that is what we do.
"I can only remember two opportunities for them, but it was from a long, long ball because playing football they could not really get behind us or attack us.
"It is a bit disappointing because I think we were the much better team.
"Credit to them because they played well, but Arsenal made the football, the other team refused to play football, they were lucky to score with a long ball.
"But it was one of those nights and now we have to make it at the Emirates in two weeks."
Fàbregas added: "It is a 1-0, and of course we did not want to lose, but it is not a 3-0 or 4-0 so we are confident at home we can make it back.
"It is not the same to play at Stamford Bridge as it is to come here.
"Here they play in front of their fans, they are more motivated, the pitch is not as good as Stamford Bridge, so they play their game.
"They know how to do it and did it very well, so credit to them.
"Now we will see how they cope at the Emirates against us.
"We are confident we can do it there."
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