Arsene Wenger has criticised Blackburn's tactics in the wake of Arsenal's 2-1 defeat at Ewood Park.
Gunners boss unhappy at players' manhandling
Arsene Wenger has criticised Blackburn Rovers' tactics in the wake of Arsenal's 2-1 defeat at Ewood Park.
Things looked good for The Gunners early on with Robin Van Persie heading the visitors in front.
However, goals either side of half-time from David Dunn and Chris Samba left Wenger's side with nothing.
Sam Allardyce's spoiling tactics are nothing new to Wenger and he is unhappy a lot of their manhandling play went unpunished.
The Frenchman felt Rovers' players often played the man and not the ball and he believed referee Martin Atkinson failed to spot the ploy.
No purpose
"There is no purpose to play the ball from the Blackburn players - they don't even watch the ball," he said.
"He (Fabianski) had two players in front of him all the time and every time it was to stop him getting the ball.
"In football when you don't go for the ball and you stop the keeper going for the ball it is a foul.
"I think the referee cannot allow that. I am very disappointed the referee lets that happen in a football game, it is unfair to a goalkeeper.
"They (Blackburn) do it well but when you feel that as a referee you have to give more protection.
"It doesn't take away the fact we weren't good but that is completely unfair."
Keeper backing
The finger will again be pointed at under-fire keeper Lukasz Fabianski for conceding twice and looking vulnerable at set-pieces.
However, Wenger does not believe he was to blame at Ewood Park and insists the Polish youngster had a decent game.
Wenger said he had no concerns about Fabianski's form or confidence and deflected the attention towards Atkinson's performance.
"I think Lukasz had a good game - it should affect the confidence of the referee," he added.
