Reading manager Jaap Stam hits back at Arsene Wenger following Lucas Perez’s two-month lay-off

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Wenger is hardly an exponent of overly-aggressive challenges, but Stam has laughed off suggestions that his defender injured Lucas intentionally.

Reading manager Jaap Stam has hit back at claims made by Arsene Wenger that defender Danzell Gravenberch intentionally injured Lucas Perez in last week’s EFL Cup tie at the Madejski Stadium, GetReading reports.

Two goals from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain meant Arsenal cruised into the quarter-finals at the expense of their Championship opponents, though the aftermath has been dominated by the news that Lucas is facing an eight week lay-off following an industrial challenge from the former Dordrecht defender.

Gravenberch, who came on as a sub in the second half in the one-sided cup tie, was accused by Wenger of aiming a deliberate kick at Arsenal’s Spanish striker (below), a suggestion Stam has emphatically rebuked.

“I don’t agree at all with his comment that it was deliberate – because it wasn’t,” the former Manchester United centre-half, who knows a thing or two about committed challenges, told GetReading.

“[Lucas] was waiting for Danzell to step in so he could turn him on the touchline and go the other way, but what defenders do is try to step into the ball.

“So basically because he [Lucas] was waiting for him and set his foot on the left side of the ball, that’s why Denzall stepped on his foot.”

“OK it’s bad that the player is out for a long time, I can understand that he is upset at not having his player. But I don’t think it’s a big foul.”

Fortunately for Arsenal, Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott (below) have started the season in prolific form, restricting Lucas to cameo appearances in a sluggish start to life in English football.

However, Wenger admitted himself that November represents something of a ‘make-or-break’ month for his side, with a North London derby and a trip to Old Trafford preceeding a crucial Champions League clash with PSG.

Therefore, the Frenchman’s ability to rotate his side and protect his charges from fatigue could be tested in the coming weeks with Lucas’ absence likely to increase the workload for his currently in-form forwards.