Source: Daily_Mail
Arsene Wenger defends wholesale Arsenal changes after slip up at Wigan
Arsene Wenger insisted his decision to make eight changes was not a gamble that backfired despite Arsenal letting 10-man Wigan off the hook.[LNB]The Gunners were leading 2-1, with Charles N'Zogbia having been red-carded for headbutting Jack Wilshere, only for the home side to level thanks to an own goal by Sebastian Squillaci.[LNB]Wenger insisted however that he had no option but to rest many of those players from Monday's 3-1 win over Chelsea.[LNB]CLICK HERE TO READ THE MATCH REPORT Excuses, excuses: Arsene Wenger didn't believe his decision to change eight players from Monday's win over Chelsea had an impact on the game[LNB]The Arsenal manager said: 'I had to change the team - with all these matches we cannot play always with the same team - but I don't think that was a problem at all.[LNB]'We had a disadvantage that Manchester United has not got - Wigan played three days ago and we played 48 hours ago, a big game in the evening.[LNB]'It is a point and we will see at the end of the season how important it is - last night Man U played 1-1 at Birmingham and we played 2-2 today. I don't think it's a shame - overall the draw was all right. Wigan had chances as well.'[LNB]Ben Watson's penalty had given the home side a deserved lead but Arsenal replied to go in ahead at the break through Andrei Arshavin's brilliant scissor-kick and Nicklas Bendtner's calm finish.[LNB] Clanger: Sebastien Squillaci was the guilty man as Arsenal let slip a one-goal lead[LNB]Wenger admitted Squillaci's own goalwas disappointing - but not as bad as last season when the Gunnersthrew away a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2.[LNB]He added: 'It was disappointingbecause we were 2-1 up, playing against 10 men and dropped two points.But overall it was a difficult game, very physical, with a high levelof commitment from Wigan and they caught us a bit at the start.[LNB]'You always felt any mistake at the back and we could pay for it as long as we didn't score the third goal.'[LNB]Wilshere had come on in the 27thminute for Abou Diaby, who suffered a calf injury that will keep himout for several weeks, and the England midfielder was then substitutedhimself shortly after N'Zogbia's red card.[LNB] [LNB] Going swimming? Wigan's Charles N'Zogbia tumbles over the leg of Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny [LNB]Wenger added: 'I felt he was a bitbecoming controversial he wanted to force decisions and he looked a bittired because he played the whole game against Chelsea and I didn'twant to expose him.'[LNB]Arsenal claimed they should have had a late penalty when Tom Cleverley appeared to block Samir Nasri's free-kick with his hands.[LNB]'I personally did not see it,' said Wenger. 'Nasri is adamant it was a 100 per cent penalty.'[LNB]Wigan manager Roberto Martinezdeclared himself 'extremely pleased' with the result but criticisedN'Zogbia for his red card, though claimed the French winger had come infor rough treatment.[LNB] [LNB] Marching orders: Referee Lee Probert dismisses N'Zogbia for his head-butt on Jack Wilshere in the closing stages[LNB] [LNB]Martinez said: 'There's no excuses -that's unacceptable, it's a bad reaction. Charles started the game verywell, he won a penalty, he gets kicked in every game and there's a lotof emotions but you cannot accept that sort of reaction.[LNB][LNB]'He let his team down - football isteam game and the reaction of the players got Charles out of jail inthat respect. We'll deal with it internally but it's something I don'tlike.[LNB]'Sometimes in football you need toreact in the right manner even if you are getting kicked all over theplace. From the first minute Charles got a rough treatment and you wantto protect the skilful players and that protection should come fromother areas not from himself.'[LNB]Martinez insisted Wenger's decision to make so many changes had not aided Wigan.[LNB]He said: 'Not at all - looking atthem they are all full internationals with really good experience. Iwould have preferred to play against the team that played againstChelsea and it would have been practically impossible for them to haverecovered.'[LNB] Wigan 2 Arsenal 2: Gunners title hopes dented by 10-man LacticsCome in No 4! Barca keep Guardiola's old shirt clear in new bid for FabregasLEO SPALL: Who was Arsenal's all-action hero against Chelsea? Theo Walcott, it's a no-brainerARSENAL FC
