Arsene Wenger has defended Louis van Gaal after the Manchester United manager was angered by Sam Allardyce.

The West Ham manager riled United’s Dutch manager after the sides drew 1-1 at the Boleyn Ground midweek.

Allardyce said

’In the end we couldn’t cope with Long-ball United. It’s not how you normally see United play, but it got them a goal in the end.

‘You might just criticise Louis Van Gaal for playing long balls as much as I’m sometimes criticised for being direct. In the end it’s paid off for them so you can’t knock it.’

This prompted a reaction from the United manager who responded by showing his dossier to the media in his press conference in scenes that were reminiscent of Rafa Benitiez’s infamous ‘facts’ rant in 2009.

lvg tactis sheets

LVG said

‘When you have 60 per cent ball possession do you think that you can do that with long balls?

 ‘Yeah, long balls, in the width, to switch the play. You have to look at the data and then you will see that we did play long balls, but long balls wide, rather than to the striker.

‘A ball to the forward striker is mainly caused long-ball play. It is not so difficult also to read that.

‘You have to see the data and put the data in the right context I believe.’

Speaking to the media ahead of his side’s FA Cup fifth round game against Middlesbrough at the Emirates, Wenger agreed with the tactics employed by LVG, stating he would do the same if the situation called for it.

Wenger said

“I play the game that is most suited to our players. When you play Olivier Giroud sometimes you go a bit longer.

“There are many ways to play football, not just one way. You go the way that suits your players.

“If you are chasing the game in the last five minutes you do not always want the short ball. Manchester United went a bit longer and it was completely logical.

“Players have an intelligence. An intelligent team knows what to do. They understand quickly when they can play a bit longer.”

Arsenal fans will know that it’s not just Giroud that Arsenal would go long for.

In games when they have been losing in the dying minutes it is not unusual to see Per Mertesacker sent forward in order to provide a bigger target for the rest of his teammates.