City duo slam compatriots

Manchester City's French duo Sylvain Distin and Antoine Sibierski have both condemned Arsenal's failed penalty at the weekend.

Robert Pires had attempted to roll the ball to compatriot Thierry Henry when presented with a penalty 20 minutes from time.

However, Pires fluffed his lines and just touched the ball with referee Mike Riley awarding a free kick to City, rather than allowing play to continue.

The City duo have now revealed their annoyance at the behaviour of their fellow countrymen.

"I can understand his idea to make the show and I don't want to blame Thierry," said Sibierski.

"But to the fans and the other team, you can't do that.

"If it had gone in, I would have really been mad."

Distin was even more scathing.

"I found it was disrespectful," he said,

"Why not try that at 5-0? They were just leading 1-0 and they didn't play extremely well.

"I don't know why they tried to do that, perhaps due to the trophy Thierry Henry [award for becoming Arsenal's all-time top scorer] received just before the match.

"It is a little poking fun at the opposition team and doesn't take us seriously.

"During an important match, they would not have done it.

"If they had succeeded, people would have called it genius, but it is above all a little ridiculous."