Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has accused some of Stoke's players of deliberately trying to injure his players.
Gunners stars Theo Walcott and Emmanuel Adebayor both picked up injuries during last weekend's 2-1 defeat at the Britannia Stadium.
The duo will miss Wednesday's UEFA Champions League clash with Fenerbahce as a result with Walcott having the better chance of returning against Manchester United this weekend.
Wenger was unhappy with Stoke's physical approach and has described those who injured Walcott and Adebayor as 'cowards'.
Courage
"For me, you need to have more courage to play football when you know somebody is tackling you from behind without any intention to play the ball, with only one intention to hurt you and I can show you some tackles where I can prove what I say," said Wenger."The one who is tackling is not the brave one, for me the brave one is the one trying to play football.
"Do you really feel that [Rory] Delap tried to play the ball when he tackled Walcott or that [Ryan] Shawcross tried to play the ball when he tackled Adebayor off the pitch?
"All the players have been injured deliberately.
"For me, the brave one is not the one who tackles from behind, but the player who tries to play football. That's the coward."
The Frenchman was also adamant it was not the first time opponents had hurt his players with reckless challenges, with the badly-broken leg Eduardo suffered against Birmingham last season the most notable example.
Defender Bacary Sagna was also hurt against Stoke and had been receiving treatment on an ankle injury in a bid to be fit for tomorrow's game.
Wenger added: "Do you want me to tell you the players we have lost here? Diaby, deliberate foul from behind, Rosicky, deliberate foul, Eduardo, deliberate foul. Now we lose Walcott, deliberate foul, and we have lost Sagna - deliberate foul on him.
"There is only one intention when he is tackled and that is the ankle. And you want me on top of that to sit here and say, 'Yes, sorry we are not brave'?"
