After witnessing his team-mate Aaron Ramsey suffer a broken leg at Stoke, Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas insisted that his team isn’t getting enough protection from referees.

Fabregas was visibly shaken at Ramsey’s injury but kept his composure to score the penalty that gave the title-chasers the lead at the Britannia Stadium.

Speaking after, the 3-1 success, Fabregas stormed: “We are victims.”

The Spanish midfielder admitted it was hard to finish the game following the 65th-minute injury.

“In the last four years, I have seen three of my players - Abou Diaby, Eduardo and now Aaron - suffer broken legs. What can I say? You could ask yourself if we are protected enough. I don’t think so. Speak to the referee,” News Of The World quoted Fabregas, as saying.

“I know in England we like to play on and play on, I know it’s a great game and we all love this type of game. But there is a line that you cannot pass and we are sometimes victims.”

“I’m not complaining - football can be like that. Every time we are down and getting kicked we don’t complain,” he added.

“But there are things in football that are a little bit too much and to have three broken legs in four years, I’m sorry, but that’s a little bit too much.”

April 2010 News