Arsene Wenger blames fatigue for Gunners' loss to Birmingham

Updated on: 03 March,2011 10:48 AM IST |
Agencies |

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that losing the League Cup final 2-1 to Birmingham City "hurts a lot" and blamed fatigue and nerves for the defeat at Wembley

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that losing the League Cup final 2-1 to Birmingham City "hurts a lot" and blamed fatigue and nerves for the defeat at Wembley.

Birmingham won the game thanks to a goal each from Nikola Zigic and Obafemi Martins either side of an impressive Robin van Persie finish, with the Blues' late winner coming from an embarrassing mistake between goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and defender Laurent Koscielny.

"But unfortunately we don't take the trophy home and that hurts, a lot. There was little time to respond after Martins' goal."

The goal that gifted Birmingham their first League Cup trophy since 1963 will no doubt be blamed on young goalkeeper Szczesny, but Wenger believed that communication could've been a major factor in the mistake.

He continued: "It doesn't just happen. You don't practice hard to make mistakes, but what happened I put down to pressure, and as well to different communication, or maybe not enough communication."

u00a0Wenger was also asked what, if any, would be the main reasons for the loss, and he agreed when asked if he believed nerves were involved.

He said: "A little bit yes. We are still a team that plays under a lot of pressure to deliver and I feel as well we were jaded physically because we have played so many games.

The match turned to be even more sour for Arsenal as Robin van Persie was substituted due to an injury.

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