Wenger - Definitely a penalty

Share
Arsene Wenger hailed his under-strength Arsenal side as they beat Portsmouth 3-0 on Saturday.

However, the Gunners boss insists his big guns will return to the fold for Tuesday's UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg against Manchester United.

A brace from Nicklas Bendtner and a Carlos Vela strike secured a top-four finish and Champions League football next term for the Londoners, with stand-in skipper Andrey Arshavin at his influential best.

The scoreline flattered the visitors though, with Pompey amassing plenty of chances and substitute John Utaka squandered the best of the lot 11 minutes into the second half when he failed to beat Lukasz Fabianski.

Utaka's miss was compounded by Arsenal going up the other end to make it three and when asked of the incident Wenger told Sky Sports: "Yes that was the turning point of the game.

"A potential 2-1 and on the break we score, 3-0 and that was the turning point.

"That was the moment we were in trouble but apart from that I feel we were the dominant team today."

The Gunners were awarded a dubious penalty in the 41st minute when Arshavin went down in the box under Sean Davis' challenge.

On second-view it looked as though the Pompey midfielder got a feint touch on the ball and the controversy of the decision was compounded further when Arshavin waved his finger at referee Lee Mason after the spot-kick was awarded.

But Wenger shrugged off suggestions that Mason made a mistake insisting:

"From our side it looked like a penalty."

Of the Arshavin gesture the Gunners boss added: "Maybe he wanted to tell him (Mason) not to send him (Davis) off.

"I haven't asked him (Arshavin) was it was a penalty or not, but I will check that."

Next up for Arsenal is their clash with Manchester United and Wenger has vowed to field his strongest team for the midweek encounter.

He said: "We prepare now for the next game - our next as you say is the big one.

"We'll be ready for it and I promise you will see a very strong Arsenal team on Tuesday."
Digg this

0 comments: