Hacked off! Wenger phone row spoils a winning night for Theo



By Matt Barlow for the Daily Mail

Theo Walcott produced something for Arsenal to smile about on Tuesday night but Arsene Wenger was left fuming as he landed in another UEFA storm.

Walcott scored the only goal as the Gunners secured a slender first-leg lead against Italy's Udinese in a Champions League play-off worth at least £25million to the winners.

Arsenal 1 Udinese 0: Read Matt Lawton's match report

On target: Walcott scored the only goal of the game after just four minutes

Wenger was watching from the stands as he served a one-match touchline ban for criticising UEFA and the referee after last season's controversial quarter-final defeat in Barcelona.



The Arsenal boss communicated by phone during the first half with his staff on the bench via coach Boro Primorac, seated beside him, but UEFA moved in to stop it, claiming it contravened the rules of his ban and saying they would investigate his behaviour.



Phone a friend: Wenger appeared to send messages to the bench via coach Primorac

Wenger, clearly fuming as he watched the second half, could be fined if he is found guilty of deliberately bending the rules, but he seems to have a good case.



Arsenal had spoken to UEFA during a meeting on the eve of the game to clarify the rule and received official clearance to contact the bench via a third party.

Back of the net: Walcott opens his account for the season with a fine finish

Everyone at the club was baffled when that changed during the game, following TV pictures of Wenger and Primorac talking, followed by Primorac making phone calls.



Assistant manager Pat Rice, on the touchline, could be seen turning to the directors' box gesticulating at the manager.



Nail biter: Wenger cut an agitated figure on the sidelines

Wenger refused to speak at a press conference after the match, sending in a message that he was suspended for the night.



It seemed UEFA did not know their own rules and, ludicrously, in the second half, Primorac was allowed to contact Rice as long as he was not passing on messages from the man seated to his left.

Udinese coach Francesco Guidolin did not have any complaints. 'It's not a problem for me,' he said. 'It's better for a coach to have communication with the bench.'

Kieran Gibbs and substitute Johan Djourou both came off with slight hamstring strains which are expected to rule them out of Saturday's game at home to Liverpool.



Jack Wilshere, who has missed the start of the season with an ankle injury, is also struggling for Saturday.

At full stretch: Gibbs is a doubt for Arsenal's match with Liverpool

At least Wenger could be satisfied with the result, thanks to Walcott's strike in the fourth minute and two excellent saves from Wojciech Szczesny to ensure the Italians did not plunder an away goal.

England manager Fabio Capello, unhappy with some of Walcott's revelations in his new book, was at the Emirates to see the winger in electric form, although he did miss a good late chance to double the lead, when his shot was saved.