Arsene Wenger labelled Raheem Sterling a “good diver” as he bemoaned two contentious goals in Arsenal’s 3-1 defeat at Manchester City.
Though Arsenal could have no complaints over Kevin De Bruyne’s fantastic first half strike both Wenger and his players fumed at referee Michael Oliver when he awarded a penalty, from which Sergio Aguero scored, for Nacho Monreal’s push on Sterling.
Arsenal were even more furious when Gabriel Jesus scored City’s third, which stemmed from a clearly offside David Silva cutting the ball back, soon after substitute Alexandre Lacazette struck to give hope to the visitors.
“It was no penalty,” said Wenger of City’s second. “We know that Raheem Sterling dives well, he does that very well. And the third goal was offside.
“I'm very upset because, at 2-1, we were in the game. The third goal was the killer and it's no coincidence that mistakes always go for the home team, as we know.
“It's unacceptable.
“Last year, if you look as well, we conceded two offside goals.”
Though Wenger bemoaned two of City’s goals his side were lucky not to concede more, with the hosts unusually slack in their final ball, Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane both failing to provide for the other when well placed in the first half.
In Pictures | Manchester City vs Arsenal | 05/11/2017
That period could have ended all square had Aaron Ramsey’s low shot through Nicolas Otamendi’s legs not been saved by Ederson.
Wenger said: “We knew before the game that we’d have some moments where we’d suffer. We tried to be solid at the back and overall I felt before the game that I knew that we could be in trouble with their pace, with the strikers they have. That’s why we tried to play our usual system.
“When we were 2-0 down, of course we had to take a gamble and after that, I felt we were more in the game.”
