Wenger: You don’t want to lose games that you should win

Matt Stead

Arsene Wenger feels his Arsenal side were unlucky to lose 1-0 at Stoke City.

Wenger told BBC Sport: “It’s a difficult defeat to swallow. We had chances – we should have won the game comfortably.

Jese Rodriguez struck a superb debut winner as Stoke held on for a 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the Premier League.

The former Real Madrid forward, who joined the Potters on a season-long loan from Paris St Germain this week, struck the only goal of the game after 47 minutes at the newly-expanded bet365 Stadium.

Arsenal were aggrieved not to be awarded a penalty in the first half and Alexandre Lacazette had an effort ruled out for offside among a host of other chances created by the visitors.

Jack Butland was also impressive in the home goal as Stoke claimed their first points of the season but Arsene Wenger’s side will wonder how they came away with nothing.

“We were unlucky. I think we scored a regular goal that was given offside and it wasn’t offside.

“It was frustrating getting caught cold for the goal. Defensively there is no excuse. We gave them a cheap goal.

“It was difficult to get the fluency. We tried but we couldn’t find the goal. There was lack of anticipation in the box with the second ball.

“To lose a game like that is disappointing. You don’t want to lose games that you should win.”