I do not think that there is any chance of Arsene Wenger being pulled up by the Premier League to answer for the comments he made after his Arsenal side lost away to Manchester City today, because the Frenchman was careful not to suggest that there had been any wrongdoing or bias on the part of referee Michael Oliver or his assistants.
However, I do wonder how Mr. Oliver and the other Premier League officials will react to the Frenchman’s criticism, because he pretty much called them all incompetent. Wenger was understandably furious about another two calls going against the Gunners at the Etihad, especially as he feels the same happened last season.
The offside for the third goal cannot be argued with whereas the penalty is a more subjective call but once again a tight one went against Arsenal and after the same happened at Stoke and Watford you can understand any manager being unhappy, but Wenger maybe went a bit too far with his comments as reported by Sky Sports.
He said, “I would say overall the referee made the decision today, with the soft penalty and the offside goal. But we are used to it when coming here, last year they had two offside goals, and once again, I feel they don’t work enough, because the level drops every season at the moment. Overall it’s unacceptable what happens.
“The physical level is very good, the decisions [are not]. At 2-1 we are in the game, and he gives a clear offside goal, and of course that kills the game for us.
“And if you see last year we conceded two offside goals as well, but of course they are a top team, but on top of that it makes things very difficult for you.”
If you were a referee and someone said you were not doing a good job would it make you more or less willing to give their team a decision? Me too, although the way things have been going for us I am not sure the officials could do us much more harm than they already are.
D.N.