A FURIOUS Arsene Wenger last night revealed Arsenal are considering taking legal action against Dan Smith following his reckless challenge on Abou Diaby.

Smith's last-minute two-footed tackle on Monday at the Stadium of Light left the 19-year-old midfielder nursing a fractured and dislocated ankle, which rules him out of the Champions League Cup final against Barcelona in two weeks' time.

The Gunners' boss was still clearly incensed over the incident - which left the player in a Sunderland hospital overnight - and added that had Smith committed the offence outside of a football arena then he would go to jail.

"I'm very upset and disappointed with the tackle," said the angry Arsenal boss. "Having watched it again I just feel I will not leave the case there.

"His only intention was to hurt the player. It's a career-threatening tackle and I will take legal advice on that to see how far I can go.

"I see that Dermot Gallagher gave him just a yellow card for that, which is just appalling."

Sunderland caretaker boss Kevin Ball, however, was quick to reiterate his defence of a player he believes is in no way malicious.

"Dan Smith is not a dirty or malicious player and it's unfair to make that call on him and say that he meant to do it," said Ball.

"He went for the ball. Unfortunately, Diaby was quicker than him. I must emphasise that this was the last thing I wanted to happen in the game, a game against a team I hope will be the champions of Europe.

"Dan Smith is a very good player. The crux of the matter is that Dan has gone to win the ball and the player has moved it just before he has got there.

"The tackle looked worse than it was. I understand where they are coming from and I understand that one of their players could miss out on one of the biggest moments of his career. I have no problem with what they have said. I might do the same in that situation. But I have to defend my player because I do not think that Dan Smith set out to do that."

Wenger claimed it wasn't the first reckless challenge the Black Cats' substitute made in Monday's 3-0 win for the Gunners.

"This guy (Smith) tried once or twice before to do it on Diaby and Fabregas," said Wenger.

"This boy is just 19, at the start of his career, and the injury is tremendously serious. You just can't accept the guy is frustrated. If you do that to a guy on the street, you go to jail.

"The injury is very bad. He has a fractured ankle and ruptured ligaments. He needed surgery straight away and we had to make a quick decision on him and it will be six to nine months before he plays again."

Wenger is optimistic the Frenchman will play again but believes Smith, who was sent off in his debut against Cheltenham this season, should be severely punished for his act.

"I want justice," insisted the Arsenal boss. "The guy who harms you in life has to be punished.

"What I don't understand in England is (Hayden) Mullins and (Luis) Garcia just pushed each other a little bit and they get a red card but you can kill the career of a player and get a yellow one.

"When you say anything bad after the game you get an FA enquiry but you can kills someone's career and everything is alright."