Monday 7 November 2016 09:54, UK
Arsene Wenger says Tottenham's penalty award in the 1-1 draw at Arsenal on Sunday was "harsh" on his side.
With Arsenal 1-0 up thanks to Kevin Wimmer's own goal in the north London derby, Laurent Koscielny brought down Moussa Dembele inside the area, allowing Harry Kane to slot home the penalty.
Wenger says that some referees would not have given the penalty, and the Frenchman also insists Victor Wanyama should have been sent off having caught Theo Walcott with his arm and been penalised for numerous fouls.
Wenger said: "[Wanyama] was very lucky to stay on the pitch today, of course.
"I think the penalty was harsh because from where I sit it looked harsh. It didn't look dangerous to score and it didn't look a foul from outside.
"After, speaking to some referees they could give it or not give it. Personally as the manager of Arsenal Football Club, I prefer not to give it."
Tottenham remain unbeaten in the Premier League this season, while Arsenal have not lost in the league since the opening day of the season.
Wenger felt Sunday's result was two points dropped, and said the Gunners suffered physically in the second half.
"I agree [it was two points dropped]. It was a game of high intensity where I felt in the first half we looked always like we could score every time we crossed the halfway line," he said.
"In the second half we looked a bit more flat physically, a bit less sharp. We couldn't find the creativity, the fluency around the box and all the things we are used to. I think our level dropped.
"I felt maybe we weren't compact enough, too stretched. In the first half they played many long balls and they stretched us because we pressurised very high so it's more difficult.
"Did we get a little bit of a mental blow when they equalised, I don't know? But overall when we were questioned in the final 15 minutes we had no physical answer good enough to win the game.
"But we tried. I cannot question the spirit or the intensity of the game."
Both Chelsea and Liverpool have thrived of late in the Premier League without dealing with the hangover of European football, and though Wenger says they have a slight advantage, they would rather be in the competition than not.
Wenger added: "It's a bit easier to prepare for the games because you do not have the intensity of the Champions League games. But if you ask them they both would like to play in there.
"So we cannot complain about that. It's a little physical advantage, for sure. Especially after the European weeks.
"But we have to deal with that and I wouldn't say that is an excuse. And if they are in front it's a small difference after 11 games. It's very tight."
