Arsene Wenger shifts blame onto officials as pressure mounts on Arsenal boss to stand down

Posted Wednesday, March 08, 2017 by Express.co.uk

Arsene Wenger shifts blame onto officials as pressure mounts on Arsenal boss to stand down
Pressure is mounting on Arsene Wenger's future at Arsenal

ARSENE WENGER astonishingly blamed the referee as ten man Arsenal were humiliatingly dumped out of the Champions League for the seventh season running at the first knockout stage - on a night of sheer embarrassment at the Emirates.

As fans demonstrated against under-pressure manager Arsene Wenger outside the Emirates Stadium demanding his exit before the game, his side on the pitch collapsed spectacularly after defender Laurent Koscielny was sent off by Greek official Tasos Sidiropoulos in the 54th minute.

But an utterly in-denial Wenger amazingly insisted: "We were really unlucky.

"Some of the referee's decision were difficult to understand. It was scandalous, and revolted me.

Arsene Wenger shifts blame onto officials as pressure mounts on Arsenal boss to stand down
Arsene Wenger was furious with the red card on Laurent Koscielny

"We should have had a penalty for a foul on Theo Walcott - Robert Lewandowski was offside for their first goal and it was not a penalty for them - and on top of that the referee gives the red card, which killed us. It is not serious. "Then it became very difficult for us. It is difficult to understand what happened.

"We played really well. The turning point was the sending off, which put us down to ten men, and we had to score four goals.

"I am sorry for the people who came and paid a lot of money to watch the game.

"It is difficult to take, and of course it looks very bad, and does not reflect the quality of our play.

"Once we went 2-1 down it became very difficult. You have no chance to qualify. The second part of the game was spoiled by the referee.

"I have to take on chin. I have to stand up for it. I will take a lot of criticism."

Theo Walcott's 19th minute goal had given Arsenal, but then Koscielny was sent off as he felled Lewandowski, who netted the penalty - and Arsenal crumbled.

Carlo Ancelotti's side took full advantage, as Arjen Robben added a second goal, Douglas Costa a third, and Arturo Vidal notched two late efforts to make it an incredible ten conceded over the two legs.

It was the heaviest aggregate defeat ever for an English club in Europe. Wenger had said he would decide on his future on the basis of - but this was also Arsenal's worst home defeat in 19 years.

Bayern Ancelotti said: "The result does not reflect what happened. They played a really good game. I don't know if Arsene will survive the pressure.

"I am not the person to ask."

Former Gunners hero Ian Wright said: "We're going through a period in our history that's the worst.