Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger criticised referee Andre Marriner for making what he believes was a massive mistake in ruling out Andrey Arshavin's goal in the Gunners' 3-0 demolition by Chelsea this afternoon.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger criticised referee Andre Marriner for making what he believes was a "massive mistake" in ruling out Andrey Arshavin's goal in the Gunners' 3-0 demolition by Chelsea this afternoon.
Wenger hit out at the referee for ruling out Arshavin's goal shortly after half-time for an apparent foul by Eduardo on Chelsea stopper Petr Cech.
The Blues were 2-0 up at the time following Didier Drogba's opener and a Thomas Vermaelen own goal.
Wenger said Marriner had told him he gave the foul because Eduardo kicked the ball out of Cech's hands as both players went for a cross.
When the ball came loose from the clash it fell to Arshavin, who put the ball in the net only for Marriner to blow up for the foul.
Wenger believes his side could have gained a vital foothold back into the match if the Russian's goal had been allowed to stand.
"The turning point was the referee's decision (to disallow the goal)," Wenger said. "Personally I believe it was not a serious decision, that was very unfair.
"How can he see Eduardo kicking Cech when it was a Chelsea player who stops him from controlling the ball? It would have been a very important goal in this kind of game and that was a big mistake by the referee.
"When you start the second half of the game 2-0 down instead of 2-1 down, it's psychologically completely different for the security of Chelsea."
