Arsene Wenger believes his side should have been awarded a penalty kick against the Blues.
Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal should have been awarded a penalty in the fiery 0-0 draw with Chelsea on Monday night.
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Blues winger Willian clattered Theo Walcott midway through the first half but referee Mike Dean waved play on, much to the fury of the Emirates Stadium faithful.
The referee also allowed the visitors to get away with a number of bone-crunching tackles and Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho goaded Arsenal for ‘crying’ about decisions after the match.
Wenger inevitably saw it rather differently, but he was careful not to be drawn into a war of words with Mourinho.
“Of course I can understand that,” he said with a wry smile when told Mourinho said he thought Dean had a good game.
“It’s Christmas, so let’s give everyone their own opinion and I can have mine.
“I don’t think he (Dean) had a great game at all.
“On the pitch it (Mikel’s foul) looked bad, but the referee was in a good position.
“As for the challenge in the area, I think it was a penalty. Honestly. If I’m wrong, I apologise.”
Second placed Arsenal have now gone four matches without a win in all competitions and, after leading the Premier League for much of the season, they have been replaced at the top by Liverpool.
Yet Wenger said he remains certain Arsenal have the character to win the title race and added: “We’re going through a patch where it’s a bit more difficult, but part of a successful season is how you deal with that.
“The spirit of the players is unbelievably focused. There’s a great desire.
“Let’s be serious: if after the first game against Aston Villa (when Arsenal lost) I’d told you we’d be near the top of the league at Christmas, you’d have told me I was absolutely mad.”
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