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Page last updated at 19:52 GMT, Monday, 3 May 2010 20:52 UK

Arsene Wenger fumes after Arsenal lose to Blackburn

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Wenger cannot understand ref decisions

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger claimed that both Blackburn's goals should have been ruled out for obstruction after his side lost 2-1 at Ewood Park.

Rovers tested goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski with high balls and scored both their goals from corner kicks.

"On both goals we were unlucky with the decision of the referee [Martin Atkinson]," said Wenger.

"Blackburn's main purpose every time was to stop the keeper. I cannot understand why he did not stop that."

Wenger also felt that his team should have been awarded a penalty after Michel Salgado tangled with Robin van Persie.

The Arsenal boss, who has complained previously about the physical approach of teams prepared by Rovers boss Sam Allardyce, said that he was not surprised by Blackburn's approach.

"We were unlucky to lose but we did not produce enough quality," added the Gunners boss.

606: DEBATE
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"But I do not know any more what is a foul and what is not a foul. Every time [a ball went in] Fabianski was pushed.

"There is no purpose to play the ball from the Blackburn players - they don't even watch the ball. He [Fabianski] had two players in front of him all the time and every time it was to stop him getting the ball.

"In football, when you don't go for the ball and you stop the keeper going for the ball, it is a foul. 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."

Rovers boss Allardyce admitted his team had targeted Fabianski but argued that they did so within the rules.

"We know that the weakness for Arsenal is balls in the box and we did that positively," said Allardyce.

"We have seen that under pressure Fabianski's handling is sometimes suspect.

"We felt that the more balls we put in, the deeper Arsenal would go and the more bodies Fabianski would then have to go through."

Allardyce targeted 'weak Arsenal defence'

Van Persie headed Arsenal in front before David Dunn equalised shortly before half-time.

Chris Samba scored the winner after the break to ensure that Rovers will end the season unbeaten at home against the Gunners, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool.

"It looked like the match would be a tall order after the first 15 minutes but we slowly worked our way into the game," added Allardyce.

Wenger's team have won just one of their last eight matches in all competitions and are not yet assured of third place in the table and automatic qualification to the group stage of next season's Champions League.

Manchester City and Tottenham, who meet on Wednesday, can still potentially catch the Gunners but they need Arsenal to drop points in their final game against Fulham next Sunday.

"I believe that it is about what we do, not what Manchester City and Tottenham do," added Wenger.

"We have a home game to finish the season and we want to finish well."



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Premier League table snapshot

As it stood on 3 May 2010 23:59 UK

PositionTeamPGDPTS
1Chelsea376383
2Man Utd375482
3Arsenal373872
4Tottenham362767
5Man City362966
6Aston Villa371464
7Liverpool372662
8Everton371058
9Birmingham37-850
10Blackburn37-1547
11Fulham36-246
12Sunderland37-744
13Stoke36-1144
14Bolton37-2636
15Wigan37-3436
16Wolves37-2535
17West Ham37-1934
18Hull37-4129
19Burnley37-4227
20Portsmouth37-3119

see also
Blackburn 2-1 Arsenal
03 May 10 |  Premier League
Monday's football photos
03 May 10 |  Premier League
Monday football as it happened
03 May 10 |  Football
Allardyce dismisses Wenger claim
14 Feb 07 |  FA Cup