Spirited show pleases Wenger

Arsene Wenger paid tribute to the spirit displayed by his Arsenal side in a topsy-turvy London derby with Fulham.

Last Updated: 11/11/12 at 10:01 Post Comment

Arsene Wenger: Saw Arsenal take a point from a game which could have swung eithe

Arsene Wenger: Saw Arsenal take a point from a game which could have swung eithe

It looked like being a comfortable afternoon for the Gunners as they raced into a two-goal lead, but the Dimitar Berbatov-inspired Cottagers turned the tie on its head to lead 3-2 at one stage in the second half.

Arsenal came again to snatch a share of the spoils, and were left cursing their luck in the dying seconds as Mikel Arteta saw a stoppage-time penalty saved by Mark Schwarzer.

Asked if Fulham deserved to take something from the game they offered a lot to, Wenger told Sky Sports: "Deserved is very difficult to measure. You have the possibility to win the game and we didn't take that.

"We were 2-0 up and gave two goals away. After that we showed fantastic spirit, but I believe we have not shown enough urgency in our defending at 2-0 up. Then, in the second half, we have done great and are unlucky in missing a penalty.

"We had plenty of chances. I felt that the team would continue to fight and not give up.

"The spirit was absolutely fantastic on both sides, it was a good football game. But you want the edge going for you, that didn't happen today, but it was a good game."

There was some debate as to whether Arsenal should have been awarded their last-gasp spot-kick, with Sascha Riether pulled up for a questionable handball.

Pressed on whether he thought the awarding of a penalty was the right call, having seen a similar decision go against his side at Manchester United last weekend, Wenger said: "I don't think so, no."

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