Bitter Wenger has a case
FURIOUS: PENALTY DOUBTFUL BUT JESUS GOAL SHOULD NOT HAVE STOOD
Manchester
Arsene Wenger accepted leaders Manchester City would be “hard to stop” in their quest for the Premier League title especially if they continued to get the rub of the green from referees.
The Gunners manager accused City forward Raheem Sterling of diving after he won a penalty in his team’s 3-1 victory over Arsenal at the Etihad on Sunday.
Wenger was furious with the performance of referee Michael Oliver who awarded the spotkick and a dubious goal, which the manager claimed was offside.
“I believe it was no penalty,” said Wenger. “We know that Raheem Sterling dives well, he does that very well.
“And the third goal was offside. I am very upset because at 2-1 we were in the game. The third goal was the killer and it is by coincidence that mistakes always go for the home team, as we know.”
City have 10 wins and a draw from their opening 11 league games this season, prompting speculation they could emulate Wenger’s “Invincibles” team that went through the whole of the 2003/04 campaign without losing a Premier League fixture.
“Look, can anyone stop them?” asked Wenger rhetorically. “It will be difficult this season with the way they have started, the way they are on a run, the quality they have.
“They will be difficult to stop but you never say never. If, on top of that, they have decisions like that at home, they will be unstoppable.”
Wenger had grounds for complaint when Laurent Koscielny was judged to have brought down Sterling for Sergio Aguero to make it 2-0 from the penalty spot and television replays suggested he was especially hard done by as David Silva appeared offside before setting up Gabriel Jesus for City’s third in the 74th minute.
“I felt it was an intense game of quality for both sides,” said Wenger. “Man City are on a high but I felt we had plenty of dangerous situations and chances.”
Kevin de Bruyne gave City the lead while, trailing 2-0, Arsenal were briefly given hope when substitute Alexandre Lacazette pulled one back.
City manager Pep Guardiola was understandably delighted to have beaten a title rival so emphatically.
After winning just two games against the top six clubs last season, City have already won all three in the current campaign, hammering Liverpool and outplaying champions Chelsea and, now, Arsenal.
“All I know is everybody can beat us, that is a principle in all sports,” said Guardiola. “It doesn’t matter what happens in the past. You can win the Champions League and lose the day after.” –