I'm so sorry! Cesc Fabregas apologises after his dangerous tackle

 Lucky escape: Fabregas avoided seeing red
Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas was forced to apologise to Stephen Ward after his horror tackle resulted in the Wolves defender having to be carried off on a stretcher at Molineux.

Referee Mark Halsey refused to send Fabregas off for his sliding challenge on Ward and the lucky midfielder escaped with just a yellow card as Arsenal won 2-0 thanks to Marouane Chamakh's double.

The tackle was deemed so bad that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger apologised to Wolves counterpart Mick McCarthy.

'I think it was accidental, that's what Cesc told me,' said Wenger. 'He touched him, of course, but he wanted to play the ball. He went to the dressing room afterwards and apologised to the player.
'I haven't seen the tackle yet but I'd like to apologise to McCarthy if his player was injured. A red card would have meant it was reckless and on purpose. The intention in the tackle is very important, you cannot take the tackling out of the game.'

Wolves boss McCarthy, incredibly, refused to criticise Fabregas and said Ward had accepted his apology.

'He's gone for the ball, so I've no problem. Their player has aluminium studs and Wardy has got a big cut on his leg. Fabregas has apologised and Wardy has accepted it like a man. It's like a throwback to the days when you've broken someone's nose and buy them a pint at the bar. '

Elsewhere, Michael Essien scored the winner in Chelsea's 1-0 win over Fulham but was sent off for a two-footed lunge at Clint Dempsey.
The Ghanaian midfielder, who Fulham boss Mark Hughes said: 'He's jumped in with two feet so it's a straight red.'

Carlo Ancelotti said: 'I think he went for the ball. I don't think he did a silly foul and I'm not sure it was a sending off.'