Wenger livid after Latics loss

Gunners boss accepts team 'made mistakes' at DW Stadium

Last updated: 18th April 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Wenger livid after Latics loss

Wenger: Distraught after defeat

It is as it is. It is difficult to swallow, but football is for 90 minutes.

Arsene Wenger
Quotes of the week

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A shell-shocked Arsene Wenger could not hide his disappointment after Arsenal's incredible surrender to Wigan, but insists his side will not lose focus in the remaining games of the season.

The Gunners boss was left devastated after his side threw away a two-goal lead in the last 11 minutes to lose 3-2 at the DW Stadium as their hosts as good as guaranteed they will avoid relegation with three matches left to play.

Arsenal had been cruising after goals from Theo Walcott and Mikael Silvestre, but Wenger's men remained six points adrift of leaders Chelsea as Ben Watson and Titus Bramble equalised before Charles N'Zogbia hit a dramatic injury-time winner.

The North Londoners appeared to have responded to a midweek derby defeat to Tottenham by seizing upon a title race lifeline offered by their capital neighbours' victory over Chelsea on Saturday evening.

That his side ultimately did not capitalise therefore made the incredible defeat to Wigan all the more galling for Wenger, who told Sky Sports when questioned on the subject: "I don't have to describe how annoying it is."

The extremely upset Frenchman added: "We have to continue to fight, but today is a game that we couldn't afford to lose, certainly.

Sharp

"I accept nothing. I said today when we were 2-0 up that we had chances to score a third goal. We have to continue to fight."

Asked if he was able to describe the last 11 minutes, Wenger said: "No. I believe we made mistakes and they took advantage of it.

"They were sharper than us in the final part of the game. I don't know what happened.

"It is as it is. It is difficult to swallow, but football is for 90 minutes."

Asked if he thought it was too easy at 2-0, Wenger explained: "Maybe we thought so. (But) I never thought it was easy because we know a team fighting not to go down never gives up."

Second-choice goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski started the match in place of Manuel Almunia, who has sustained a wrist injury.

Dreadful

The Poland international was celebrating his 25th birthday, but his match was marred with a dreadful fumble at a corner to allow Bramble to equalise.

When it was put to Wenger that Fabianski could have done better at the goal, the Arsenal manager said: "I think he would accept that as well."

Rather than being in the title hunt, Wenger is now looking over his shoulder at Spurs and Manchester City, with the hope of simply hanging onto third place.

"My target is to win the next game, that's all we can do," he added. "Manchester City and Spurs can still catch us, so we have to win at least one of our remaining games."

Cheekily asked as to who his money was now on for the title, Wenger gave a naturally dismissive response.

"I don't mind and I don't care," he said. "All I know is if we had won today then we would have been back in it."

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