Guardian sport and Reuters 

Wales’ Chris Coleman tells Arsène Wenger not to comment on Gareth Bale

Bale has not played a full game for the Spanish club since the middle of last month because of a calf problem, although he could return this weekend
  
  

Chris Coleman said of Arsène Wenger: ‘Don’t comment on Gareth Bale because he’s nothing to do with Arsenal.’
Chris Coleman said of Arsène Wenger: ‘Don’t comment on Gareth Bale because he’s nothing to do with Arsenal.’ Photograph: Matthew Childs/Reuters

Chris Coleman has told Arsène Wenger not to comment on Gareth Bale and said the Real Madrid forward “has nothing to do with Arsenal”, after Wenger questioned Wales’ handling of their key players.

Bale will miss Wales’ friendly at home to Holland on 13 November after Coleman had conversations with Real, the Wales manager said on Wednesday.

Coleman said Bale, a key figure in Wales reaching the finals of Euro 2016, was going to be included until discussion with Madrid. Bale has not played a full game for the Spanish club since the middle of last month because of a calf problem, although he could return this weekend.

Aaron Ramsey will also miss the game with a hamstring injury suffered in the Champions League game at home to Bayern Munich a fortnight ago, after Wenger appeared to criticise Wales for playing him and Bale against Andorra, saying it had “cost” the players. But Coleman hit back on Wednesday, describing the comment as “a cheap shot“.

“Don’t comment on Gareth Bale because he’s nothing to do with Arsenal,” he told reporters. “And if he’s got a problem with my selection or one of his players, like Aaron Ramsey, tell me. He called Roy Hodgson to speak about Theo Walcott. He didn’t call me. Why?

“I’ll gladly drive to the Arsenal training ground or wherever his office is. If I or my medical staff get no correspondence from a club, that is a green light to play the player. Don’t point the finger at us. It’s not in our interest to gamble with players and we never have done.”

 

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