Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger apologises for pushing fourth official Anthony Taylor
Monday 23 January 2017 13:04, UK
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has apologised for pushing fourth official Anthony Taylor during his side's last-gasp 2-1 win against Burnley at the Emirates on Sunday.
The Frenchman, who could face action from the Football Association over the incident, was sent from the touchline for his protests after referee Jon Moss had awarded the visitors a penalty in the third minute of stoppage time.
As Andre Gray equalised, plunging Arsenal's title hopes in doubt, Wenger - watching from the tunnel - was ushered away by Taylor.
Wenger was seen throwing his arms towards Taylor before going down the tunnel, where he watched on as his side were awarded their own spot kick which Alexis Sanchez scored in the 98th minute to move the Gunners up to second in the Premier League.
Asked to explain why he had been sent off, Wenger said: "I regret everything. I should have shut up and gone in and gone home, basically.
"I apologise for that. There's nothing bad. I said something you hear everyday in football but nine times out of 10 you're not sent to the stand for that. But if I am, I am and I should have shut up completely."
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Speaking immediately after the game, however, Wenger had categorically denied making any contact with Taylor.
"No, no, no," he told Sky Sports, when asked if he had pushed the fourth official. "I just went in and watched the game here after. I thought I could stay in the corridor."
Shkodran Mustafi's first Arsenal goal gave the hosts a 59th-minute lead in a game that would go on to be littered with contentious decisions.
Granit Xhaka's second red card in Arsenal colours swung the game in Burnley's favour but, after more than 35 minutes with a man advantage there looked to be no route back for Sean Dyche's men.
That was until referee Moss penalised Francis Coquelin's challenge on Ashley Barnes in the box, allowing Gray to draw the Clarets level.
But the drama continued as Ben Mee's challenge on Laurent Koscielny - who appeared offside in the build-up - handed Arsenal a lifeline.
"I don't know if it was a sending off but if it was one we can only look at ourselves and make sure it doesn't happen again," the Gunners boss said.
"Overall I believe that made the game much more difficult for us, nervously and physically. It was a big game and you have to stay 11 versus 11.
"Two penalties? At the end of the day we have seven minutes injury time, we played with 10 men, it was difficult. Just before the penalty we should have scored the second goal but after that it was a bit hectic.
"I did not see if it was a penalty and I'll have to watch that to see what happened. Coquelin told me he ran into him and it didn't make a penalty but I don't know.
"On TV it (Arsenal's penalty) looked a penalty. Koscielny came out again before the ball was kicked, whether that's a fraction of a second offside or not I don't know. It looked like he came back and went again.
"We kept going and we are a relentless team who fights for every single thing. But it was a difficult game against a Burnley side who made the game very uncomfortable for us.
"As long as you cannot take your chances you're always susceptible to concede a goal against them because they are quite efficient."
