Source: Team_Talk
Wenger critical of 'unfair' Rovers
Arsene Wenger refused to blame goalkeeper Lucasz Fabianski for Arsenal's 2-1 defeat at Blackburn, instead accusing Rovers of "unfair" tactics.[LNB] Robin van Persie's first goal since October 31, having been sidelined for five months with an ankle injury, had put the visitors ahead in the 14th minute.[LNB]However, they failed to deal with Morten Gamst Pedersen corners on two occasions as David Dunn equalised from close range just before half-time and Chris Samba headed in from barely three yards after Fabianski failed to come and collect.[LNB]The Poland international had endured similar trials at Wigan last month, when he conceded three goals in the last 10 minutes in a defeat which effectively ended Arsenal's title challenge.[LNB]But Wenger said no blame could be attached to his goalkeeper.[LNB]"There is no purpose to play the ball from the Blackburn players - they don't even watch the ball," he said.[LNB]"He (Fabianski) had two players in front of him all the time and every time it was to stop him getting the ball.[LNB]"In football when you don't go for the ball and you stop the keeper going for the ball it is a foul.[LNB]"I think the referee cannot allow that. I am very disappointed the referee lets that happen in a football game, it is unfair to a goalkeeper.[LNB]"They (Blackburn) do it well but when you feel that as a referee you have to give more protection.[LNB]"It doesn't take away the fact we weren't good but that is completely unfair."[LNB]Wenger said he had no concerns about Fabianski's form or confidence and deflected the attention towards referee Martin Atkinson's performance.[LNB]"I think Lucasz had a good game - it should affect the confidence of the referee," he added.[LNB]An unrepentant Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce was, unsurprisingly, delighted to have irked his Arsenal counterpart.[LNB]"If you expose the opposition's weaknesses enough then in the end those weaknesses will be exposed," he said.[LNB]"The amount of balls we put into the box on the keeper, who has obviously been a weak link for them, paid off.[LNB]"We beat Arsenal fair and square. The referee gave some that were fouls, he gave some that weren't fouls and he didn't give some that might have been fouls.[LNB]"You can't give everything as a foul on the goalkeeper and he certainly gave his fair share.[LNB]"You can argue all you want about those two particular incidents but we could argue Morten Gamst Pedersen should have had a penalty when he got brought down in the second half.[LNB]"I'm not overly concerned about what Arsene says - he's said it before about my tactics.[LNB]"But we know these tactics work against Arsenal and they've worked again today."[LNB]Allardyce added: "We play the game as managers, we look at each other and you see if you can find any weaknesses in the opposition manager as well as the team.[LNB]"Criticising me is great because I'd sooner him criticise me when I've beaten them rather than him praising me when they've beaten us.[LNB]"It is very pleasing we have won the game and I think we won the game because we deserved to."
