Wenger acts as Pires peacemaker

Pires has lashed out at Domeneche

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has urged Robert Pires to resolve his differences with France coach Raymond Domenech.

Last week Pires criticised Domenech, claiming he felt humiliated in being substituted at half-time against Cyprus in a World Cup qualifying tie.

Wenger told French televsion: "The only way is to talk about it frankly."

"Robert resents his current situation in the French side and he expressed his views knowing he would have to face the consequences," added Wenger.

Pires told France Football magazine last week: "Nothing leads me to believe he {Domenech] trusts me. It is turbulent between us.

"Domenech needs to set us free, but he stresses us out with his attitude, his words, his comments."

Pires added: "I must be annoying him. It's like being at school. It's like I'm 20 years old and playing football for the first time."

The Arsenal winger was angry at being taken off and replaced by three-cap Daniel Moreira at half-time in a 2-0 win against Cyprus.

He said: "If that match had been at Stade de France, I would not have stuck around.

"I would have run away. I was vexed, annoyed, shaken. When the coach (Domenech) said: 'Daniel, you replace Robert' I could not believe it. It's the first time I've ever experienced a feeling like that."

Former international defender Bixente Lizarazu added to the pressure building on Domenech, also criticising his methods in a interview with French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche.

"Domenech chose to restructure everything, to destroy the affection which linked the French team together."

After taking over from Jacques Santini, Domenech stated his desire to rebuild and dispense with the old generation.

But he then attempted to persuade Lizarazu out of retirement, along with Zinedine Zidane and Lilian Thuram - who all stepped down after Euro 2004.

"These are his choices, but I don't understand why he should call me. And I think the others felt the same way," added Lizarazu.

"There is a big difference between what things are really like and how they appear. I met him (Domenech), I also observed him in the media and finally this comforted me in my choice to stop.»