Tuesday, 25 August 2015

Arsene Wenger Frustrated By Officials


Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was critical of the officials after watching side draw with Liverpool at the Emirates on Monday night.

The Gunners have now failed to win either of their first two home games in the Premier League this season after losing 2-0 to West Ham in their opening match of the campaign.

However, Wenger was disappointed that Aaron Ramsey's early strike was ruled out for offside, when TV replays showed that the midfielder had in fact been level with Liverpool's last line of defence before beating goalkeeper Simon Mignolet with a precise finish.

"Liverpool had some chances in the first half, but had nothing in the second," said Wenger. "I believe we had chances in both halves, we kept going and were unlucky because we scored a regular goal and that was cancelled by a decision that was very difficult to understand."

Wenger put his team's indifferent showing in the first half down to the fact that his first-choice central defenders, Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny, were both missing from Arsenal's starting line-up.

"In the first half I thought we were a bit insecure at the back because we had a completely reshuffled defence, but in the second half they were much more stable and we played quite well," he said.

"In the first half we had chances, [Alexis] Sanchez had a good header, we scored a regular goal, we had enough chances to win the game. Liverpool cannot complain with the decision.

"You have to give credit to Liverpool as well, as they worked very hard defensively in the first half and created an insecure feeling at the back for us. Of course it is a new partnership and they have to settle, that is understandable."

The Arsenal coach, however, did praise Petr Cech after the experienced goalkeeper produced a man-of-the-match performance to help earn the Gunners earn a point, with the former Chelsea shot stopper producing two brilliant saves in particular in the first half.

"He did a good job tonight because he kept us in the game in important moments, but that is what you expect from him and he had a good game," he added.

And the Frenchman also said he was not worried by Arsenal's failure to score at home in the Premier League so far this season.

"We want to score goals and we play to score goals, we had a lot of possession, but as long as you cannot finish - of course the team plays deep - and we struggle again to score tonight.

"It is the second game now since the start of the season at home (that we have not scored), and we are not used to that, but let's be positive, constructive and prepare for the next game.

"We know we can score goals, it is just about playing better in the opponents' final third and getting our passing going and passing the ball better."

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