Premier League

LONDON, Feb 29 (Reuters) - Martin Taylor said that Arsene Wenger's comments in the aftermath of the Birmingham City defender's leg-breaking challenge on Arsenal's Eduardo da Silva coloured people's views of the incident.

Eduardo suffered a broken leg and dislocated ankle when he was caught by Taylor minutes into last weekend's Premier League game, with Taylor sent off.

The Arsenal players were visibly shocked by the extent of the injury and Wenger said Taylor should be banned from football for life -- a comment he later retracted.

"Personally, it (Wenger's comment) hasn't changed my view because I know it was an accident. But it has affected the way people react to it," Taylor told Wednesday's Independent newspaper.

"Arsene Wenger is one of the most highly regarded managers in the game and people listen to what he says. They look at it in a different light because someone who is so learned has said something like that.

"At the time it didn't register too much what he said. Because I knew I had gone for the ball I knew it was an accident. That Arsene Wenger later retracted his comments demonstrates that he now accepts it was an accident."

Taylor visited Eduardo in hospital and said he would be delighted to see him back in action for club and country.

"I thought maybe he wouldn't want to see me, which would have been fair enough because of the trauma. But he was really kind to see me," Taylor said.

"Although there was a language barrier, I just said that I didn't mean him any harm at all and that I hoped he made a quick recovery.

"He took it on board and nodded. I was just really glad we could communicate. He is obviously a really strong man.

"When he gets back to fitness and he puts the ball in the net for Arsenal for the first time we will all feel much better.

"People will be able to see that accidents like these are the nature of football and you can recover from it."

Taylor has received a series of internet threats since the incident but said he has also had support from fans all over the country.

"It has been difficult, the whole incident shook me and my family, but I have had a lot of support that has helped me through a difficult time," he said.

"I have had support publicly and privately. I have had great support from my manager, Alex McLeish, my team mates and Birmingham fans as well as supporters across the country, including those from Arsenal.

"I also want to thank ex-managers and also friends coming round to my house or talking to me. It has been exceptionally helpful."