Not many expected Arsenal to compete for the Premier League title this season, but today’s 3-1 loss at Manchester City probably eliminates any realistic chances they might have had. Their loss to the league leaders today now puts them 12 points off the top of the table.
No wonder embattled Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was in a bad mood after the match and he sounded off on both the officials and Man City forward Raheem Sterling.
Wenger both blasted the referees and called Sterling a diver.
Sky Sports quotes the Frenchman: “Once again the referee made the decision today, with a soft penalty and an offside goal,” he told Sky Sports. “But we are used to it when we come here. Last year we had two offside goals against us.”
“I feel the referees don’t work enough, because their level drops every season at the moment, and overall it’s unacceptable what happens. At 2-1 we are in the game. And he gives a clear offside goal. And that kills the game for us.”
Sterling won a penalty from an entanglement with Nacho Monreal, and Sergio Aguero then stepped up and converted the free kick in the 50′.
Wenger took major issue with the call, and branded Raheem Sterling a diver.
“I believe it was no penalty. It was a provoked penalty by Sterling,” Wenger said in an interview with the BBC.
“We know that he dives well, he does that very well.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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