Thursday Apr 03 2008 08:03
Arsene Wenger was at a loss to explain how
Arsenal failed to secure a first-leg advantage after a 1-1 Champions League quarter-final draw with
Liverpool.
The Gunners took an early lead through EmManUel Adebayor but conceded an equaliser to Dirk Kuyt just three minutes later in a cagey opening leg at the Emirates Stadium.
But after seeing his side carve out the better second-half chances and being denied a penalty when Kuyt appeared to pull back Alex Hleb, Wenger felt his side should have gone on to win the match.
"It is difficult to understand how we did not win the game because we had a lot of possession and a lot of chances," he said.
"We were a bit unlucky as well with a big decision of the referee on the penalty. It's difficult to take, but we have to swallow it.
"Sometimes the referee is in a bad position but he was five yards away from Kuyt and it was 100 per cent a blatant penalty.
"I feel we were not rewarded for what we produced and we had the chances to win it.
"Liverpool created very little and the whole second half was played in one half.
"If you look at our amount of possession compared to Liverpool, it is frightening that we could only come out of it with a 1-1.
"It will be a test now for us in the second leg, but we have the desire to do it."
Meanwhile, Wenger revealed that Robin van Persie is a doubt for Saturday's Premier League clash with the Reds after being forced off at half-time with a thigh problem.
"We had to take him out as a precaution," he added.
"It doesn't look too bad, but we think he may be short for the next game.
"We will see how it goes. I don't think it's a recurrence but it was where he was injured before, on his thigh, where he had the problem."
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