Holland rejects Wenger claim

Report: Charlton 1-1 Arsenal

Matt Holland has rejected Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger's claims that he dived to earn Charlton a penalty in the 1-1 draw between the two sides.

Holland was accused of simulation by Wenger after he went down under a Lauren challenge to earn Charlton a spot-kick which Paolo di Canio chipped in.

"I got clipped and tried to stay on my feet, but went down and the referee gave it," Holland told the Evening Standard newspaper.

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"I definitely got touched and am the sort of player that tries to stay up.

"I've never dived in the past and there's no reason why yesterday would be any different."

Wenger defended Gunners winger Robert Pires against similar accusations earlier this month but said the two incidents could not be compared.

He said: "If I was the manager of Charlton, I would be very happy. There was no water underneath him but it was very nice.

HAVE YOUR SAY Frankly, it's just the usual old rubbish you hear from any player who takes a dive. I got touched, I tried to stay up, I never dive ... and so on From sideshowbill Join the 606 debate

"There was no contact between the players and I do not believe that there is any comparison between this and Robert Pires.

"Robert was touched against Portsmouth when he was on the run and this was different.

"I don't rage about it, I can't change anything now, I am just saying what I honestly think."

Di Canio converted the penalty but Arsenal equalised six minutes before the break through Thierry Henry, who also struck the post.

The smaller clubs don't tend to get too many penalties Alan Curbishley More Charlton reaction

Henry described the penalty as "a bit harsh" but was satisfied to see Arsenal go back above Chelsea to the top of the Premiership table.

Henry said: "I hope there's more to come but the positive side of it is that we're not playing at our best but we're still getting points and looking good in the table."

Wenger paid tribute to Charlton's battling display, but blamed the after-effects of his side's Champions League defeat in midweek to Dynamo Kiev for their failure to go on and take all three points.

"It was hard work out there and the penalty made it even harder," he said.

"We had a difficult start but the penalty woke us up and our best period was leading up to half time.

"If we could have sustained that pace, we would have won but we couldn't do it and several of our players looked jaded."