On last week’s Match of the Day, BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson claimed that if tackles like the one Gael Clichy received at Bolton were banned, the game would be ‘for the jessies’.

The former Liverpool defender’s words will certainly come back to bite him.

First Gael Clichy. Now Man United’s Rodrigo Possebon. Both players were extremely lucky to escape without a broken leg after horrific challenges by Bolton’s Kevin Davies, and Middlesborough’s Emanuel Pogatetz - the latter apologised for his actions and admitted he committed a reckless tackle on the promising young Brazilian. As for Kevin Davies, well, surprise surprise, there was no apology from Wanderers’ renowned fouling frontman.

Lawrenson missed the point entirely - while the physical nature of the game must remain, tackles like the ones stated above are simply not acceptable when they run the very real risk of breaking someone’s leg. Pundits like Lawrenson do not help the matter with their consistent line of ‘Arsenal don’t like it up ‘em’, as if that somehow excuses the sometimes violent challenges that come our way.

My point is, no one wants to see tackles being kicked out of the game, they are the mainstake of our wonderful sport. If you can identify a dangerous tackle then it should be punished by a red card, no one would argue with that. But tackles are starting to get out of control, players walk on the pitch with their main objective to kick the players off the park. Someone needs to tell the likes of Mark Lawrenson that comments like his are no help at all to football, and like I said earlier, his words will definitely, almost certainly, come back to bite him.

Big mistake Lawro, big mistake.

Arsene Wenger says he would not be afraid to play any of his young Gunners in the Premier League after Arsenal demolished Sheffield United 6-0 in the Carling Cup.

Wenger had named a side with an average age of only 19 - and was not disappointed as the youngsters stepped up to the challenge to leave the Championship side in tatters.

Mexican striker Carlos Vela grabbed a hat-trick, while Nicklas Bendtner hit a first-half double and 16-year-old Jack Wilshere weighed in with his first senior goal.

There were also impressive displays from Wales Under-21 midfielder Aaron Ramsey and aspiring full-back Kieran Gibbs, which all left the Arsenal manager confident the club’s future is in safe hands.

He said:

“The team showed a good mixture of talent and a mature collective spirit to play football the way we want to play.

“The way the team remained focused and they looked a complete team. I am very proud of that.

“We looked strong in every individual position, and that takes a lot of hard work.”

Wenger added:

“We knew about Bendtner, but we discovered more about Vela. He is a clinical finisher.

“I integrated Wilshere into the first team sometimes last season when he was 15 and he did not look out of place and it is natural for him.

“I was not surprised because I see them every day, but you never know on a big stage how they play.

“They did that with the belief we want them to have and the spirit we want then to have.

“Now for us the biggest challenge is to keep them together and slowly integrate them into the first team. Some have done that already.

“These players do not play like kids. They play with intelligence, talent and with spirit.

“They can beat many teams and I would not be scared to play any individual in the Premier League.”

Arsenal head coach Arsene Wenger named his youngest ever team for the third round clash with Championship side Kevin Blackwell’s side and it certainly paid off. There will be more to come from Wenger’s young Gunners and I personally, can’t wait.