Monday 23 January 2017 09:43, UK
Arsene Wenger admitted losing his cool but denied pushing fourth official Anthony Taylor in Arsenal's dramatic victory over Burnley.
The Gunners boss was sent to the stands at the Emirates Stadium for his protests after referee Jon Moss awarded Burnley 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.
The Frenchman was seen throwing his arms towards Taylor before going down the tunnel, where he watched on as the Gunners were awarded their own penalty which Alexis Sanchez's scored in the 98th minute to move the Gunners up to second in the Premier League.
Speaking immediately after the game, though, Wenger categorically denied making 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."
Asked to explain why he had been sent off, Wenger added: "Myself? I just should have shut up. I apologise for not having done it but that's it.
"There was nothing malicious I just shouldn't have said some words and kept my control even if it was a hectic time."
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."
