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Page last updated at 22:54 GMT, Tuesday, 20 October 2009 23:54 UK

Late equaliser frustrates Wenger

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
Wenger was furious with his side following AZ Alkmaar's late equaliser

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger bemoaned his team's failure to close out the game after AZ Alkmaar scored an injury-time equaliser in the Champions League.

Cesc Fabregas put Arsenal in front and the Gunners had several chances to put the match beyond Dutch side AZ.

But David Mendes Da Silva struck in the 93rd minute to deny Arsenal a third straight win in Group H.

"In the Champions League you need focus for 93 minutes - we made one mistake and paid for it," said Wenger.

The AZ goal came from a long free-kick that impressive substitute Graziano Pelle headed into the path of Mendes Da Silva, who superbly volleyed home.

"You know that in the last five minutes of a Champions League match, anything can happen," added Wenger.

"They have thrown everything forward and I felt they could only score on a set-piece - and that is what happened.

"It is frustrating because we looked closer to scoring a second than conceding, but credit to them, they did fight well and went until the last minute."

The free-kick was awarded after an Arsenal player had been caught offside - and Wenger added that he hoped his team would learn from the experience.

"We are still learning," added Wenger, whose team remain top of Group H after two wins and one draw from their three games.

"You do not need to give a free-kick away on an offside in the last minute.

"We were largely in control, but as long as you are not two goals in front, that is the problem.

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"You can score with just one kick from the goalkeeper into your box. That is just football."

The Gunners are one point clear of Olympiakos in their group and Wenger is confident his team will qualify for the knock-out stage.

"We are still in a strong position," said the Gunners boss, who turns 60 on Thursday.

"We have three games left, two at home, and I believe to win one game will qualify us.

"What I want is for us to continue to play like we do, focus to play better. In football, you have to produce the maximum result with your game, and tonight that did not happen."

AZ owner Dirk Scheringa has this week been declared bankrupt, leaving the club facing an uncertain future.

The team played without sponsor DSB Bank NV on their shirts and the club is expected to be put for sale in a matter of days.

"We never lost the spirit," said AZ manager Ronald Koeman. "I am very happy about the result and the performance of the team.

"The situation of the club is difficult. You read more things about what is happening outside of football in the last few days.

"However, the team concentrated well and had a good spirit from the beginning."



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see also
AZ Alkmaar 1-1 Arsenal
20 Oct 09 |  Europe
Tuesday's Champions League review
20 Oct 09 |  Europe
Tuesday football as it happened
20 Oct 09 |  Football
Champions League photos
20 Oct 09 |  Europe
Walcott faces month on sidelines
19 Oct 09 |  Arsenal


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