Saturday 18 November 2017 18:12, UK
Arsene Wenger disagreed with Mauricio Pochettino's claim that Arsenal benefitted from favourble referee decisions in their 2-0 north London derby win.
Shkodran Mustafi and Alexis Sanchez secured the Gunners a dominant 2-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium over Tottenham, but there was a hint of fortune about each of the first-half goals.
Mustafi's header came after referee Mike Dean had awarded a dubious free-kick for a foul on Sanchez, while Alexandre Lacazette appeared offside in the build-up to their second.
Asked if Arsenal benefited from refereeing decisions, Wenger said: "I don't think so. Two weeks ago we conceded a goal that was not marginally offside, it was a yard offside, and nobody found a word to say.
"I watched it again - it's not true that he was offside. And it was a foul.
"When we concede goals, it's absolutely normal, even when they are a yard offside. When we may be offside, I have to answer that in a press conference."
The defeat was Pochettino's first north London derby reverse in the Premier League as Spurs continued to struggle away from home against the other top six teams, having now claimed just three wins from 32 away days against the 'big six'.
Meanwhile, Arsenal - who showed steel as well as style when it mattered - have won their opening six Premier League home games for the first time since 2007.
"We played with purpose, good concentration, the desire to be always efficient and with great solidarity from the first to last minute," Wenger said.
"The quality of our concentration was very high. We never had a minute where we could feel we dropped a little bit our focus.
"Overall it was a very intense game. When you look at the performance of the two teams, it is absolutely through the roof. The players produced an immense performance on both sides.
"We have 22 points today. We are a few points short, but if you analyse our game, I can show you why."
