Wenger slams ‘farcical’ Chelsea penalty
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ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger described the decision to award Eden Hazard a penalty in his side’s 2-2 Premier League draw with Chelsea on Wednesday as “farcical.”
Hazard’s foot was caught by defender Hector Bellerin in the area and referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot. The Belgian forward converted to level the match at 1-1 in the 67th minute before Marcos Alonso put Chelsea ahead and Bellerin equalized.
Wenger bemoaned the decision, which came after West Bromwich Albion was given a controversial late penalty against Arsenal on Sunday that helped it secure a draw.
“We showed great mental resources (to draw) and got a farcical decision again on the penalty, but we knew that (could happen) as well before (the game) so we have to deal with that,” Wenger said. “At some stage in football you have to stand up to the referee’s decisions.”
Wenger was charged by the Football Association for comments he made to the officials after the draw at West Brom and plans to contest the decision.
“I have been in football for 35 years, I know what I said after the game, I stand up for what I said,” he said.
Bellerin made amends for conceding the penalty by scoring a stoppage-time equalizer for Arsenal, although Chelsea had two further chances with Alvaro Morata firing at Petr Cech before Davide Zappacosta hit the crossbar.
“Maybe I would have gone home and committed suicide,” joked Wenger. “I was so close to that.”
Once he had calmed down, Wenger reserved praise for Arsenal midfielder Wilshere, who scored his first league goal for the club since May 2015.
Wilshere appeared to have no future with the Gunners when he was sent on loan to Bournemouth last season, but now Wenger says he deserves an England recall. “He is where not many people expected him to be. Since Euro 2016 he hasn’t played for England. I would say that means everyone had given up on him,” he said. “Now no one would be surprised if he was selected again. He deserves great credit for that.”
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte said Wenger should show more respect for the officials as he responded to his rival’s complaints.
“For sure there is a lot of frustration from the coach after the game. Sometimes we don’t agree with them, but we must have great respect for the decision of the referee,” he said.
Conte also defended Alvaro Morata after the Chelsea striker missed a host of chances to continue his erratic first season in England following his move from Real Madrid.
“For a striker it is very important to score, it is a pity, he had many chances to score, but I’m very happy with his commitment and effort,’ Conte said.
“This is the first season he is playing with regularity, because he didn’t play with Real Madrid and also Juventus. He has to stay calm and continue to play this way, the goals are coming.”
With Chelsea 16 points behind runaway leader Manchester City, Conte conceded the champion wouldn’t be able to retain the title. “We must be realistic. It is very difficult to catch them. We fight for a place in the Champions League,” he said.
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