Monday 26 February 2018 08:32, UK
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists Manchester City's second goal in their 3-0 Carabao Cup final win was "100 per cent offside".
Goals from Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany and David Silva handed City their first trophy of the Pep Guardiola era as they eased to victory at Wembley.
However, Wenger took offence to City's second goal in the 58th minute, stating his belief that Leroy Sane was obstructing while standing in an offside position as Kompany turned in Ilkay Gundogan's initial attempt.
"I believe we were a bit unlucky," Wenger told Sky Sports. "The second goal, I have just watched it again. It was an important goal for this game, and for me it was 100 per cent offside."
The Arsenal boss reiterated this point in his post-match press conference, highlighting his disbelief that the VAR was content that the goal should stand.
"I feel like everything went against us today," Wenger said. "The second goal is offside. I don't know who is sat in the VAR. I just watched it again. It's a mystery to me how you can sit there and watch that [on VAR] and not give offside."
Before City opened their account at Wembley, Arsenal missed the first opportunity of the match when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was denied by Kyle Walker and then goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.
Aguero went on to put City in front minutes later, with the City forward nudging Shkodran Mustafi away from a Bravo goal-kick before calmly lifting the ball over David Ospina.
And although Wenger once more referenced the "offside" second goal, the Frenchman admitted his side made costly mistakes in the final defeat.
"We had the first good chance and a very easy one that we missed. After that we made a big mistake on the first goal. We controlled them quite well in the first half," Wenger told Sky Sports.
"Second half I felt we had a poor start, but we are unlucky as well because the second goal is offside. After that it was too much for us.
"I wanted to make a change at 2-0 but the game didn't stop and after 3-0 it was late. Overall, congratulations to Man City, in the end they deserved the win.
"When you lose games and you make mistakes you have to accept to be criticised. It's emotionally difficult after a game, so you do not want to go too much into the criticism, that's the easiest part.
"When you lose 3-0, you have of course to defend better. I still feel that sometimes, for periods in the game we defended very well and suddenly we lose a little bit of concentration. Against quality teams you pay for it."
