Saturday 21 November 2015 19:15, UK
Arsene Wenger admitted his side had a "nightmare" afternoon at West Brom - but still felt they were unlucky to lose 2-1.
Olivier Giroud headed the Gunners in front at the Hawthorns, but the hosts came from behind to win thanks to a James Morrison volley and a Mikel Arteta own goal.
Santi Cazorla also slipped as he took a penalty late on, firing the spot kick over the crossbar, and Wenger admitted they had poor fortune against Tony Pulis' side.
"It was a very bad afternoon for us," he said. "We had 70 per cent possession, we scored an own goal, we missed a penalty, we gave away a goal from a set-piece, that is perfect to make the afternoon a nightmare.
"We missed open goal chances. At 1-0 we had just to make sure they did not come back with an easy goal and that's where we were guilty, because apart from that I cannot fault the team who gave what they could until the last minute."
Insisting his team were unlucky, Wenger told Sky Sports: "I believe we never deserved to lose this game.
"I believe we gave everything to win it. Maybe, if I could say one part where the focus was not 100 per cent, it was between 35 and 45 [minutes].
"When we were 1-0 up it became a bit too easy [for West Brom], especially on the set piece where we knew exactly what was happening.
"[Morrison] didn't even need to head the ball, so defensively I believe we were not at our usual level. Offensively we were unlucky because we missed many chances."
Arsenal have been plagued by injuries in midfield all season, and their cause will not have been helped after both Francis Coquelin and Mikel Arteta had to be taken off.
"Arteta looks to be a muscular problem, and Coquelin a knee problem," said Wenger.
"But it's too early to say how severe the damage is."
The Gunners have yet to win in November, and go into Tuesday's clash with Dinamo Zagreb needing victory to keep their slim hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive.
Arsenal's failure to finish their chances was a concern for Wenger, but the Frenchman is confident his side can recover from the disappointment.
"It was a bad day and bad luck, but as well you want to see your players in these kind of situations because you know sometimes it happens," he said.
"We are of course a very disappointed dressing room tonight, but now we cannot change it.
"We have to bounce back and learn the lesson from what happened to us today."
