Arsenal defender Gael Clichy is not blaming the referee for their Champions League exit but their "ridiculous" capitulation.
The Gunners were just seven minutes away from the Champions League semi-finals when Liverpool were awarded a controversial penalty.
The tie was in their hands at 3-3 on aggregate but the game ended 5-3 after Steven Gerrard's penalty following Kolo Toure's challenge on Ryan Babel and the Dutchman's final goal.
But Clichy - in a refreshing burst of honesty - refuses to blame referee Peter Frojdfeldt's decision for their exit and instead wonders at their ability to shoot themselves in the foot.
"We did well to score the first goal and to come back and get the game to 2-2. And at that point we were through. But what happened after that was really disappointing," he told the Evening Standard.
"To concede a goal like this, whether it is a penalty or not a penalty, may be disappointing but it is not unlucky.
"It is unreal to have had a chance like this, to score the equaliser and get to 2-2 and then to concede a goal only a few seconds after kick off. I can't find the words for it. It is just ridiculous."
That is in stark contrast to the views of Arsene Wenger and defender Kolo Toure, who both suggested that defeat was attributable to the referee.
Your Comments
arsenal4life
"arsenes a tight ass and nothing will change. we'll be in the same part of the table next season"
blocka00
"pool fan here... football is a weird game and its a shame that so many matches are often decided by the referee, when comparing the kuyt non-penalty in the first leg, and the penalty given in the second game... they were in the wrong order. kuyt's should have been and babel's not! having said that, arsenal should defended a little better with 7mins left, credit to liverpool's never say die game when they need playing until the final whistle."
stan
"that's gooners again, another blow, as always Champions League underachievers. Don't blame the ref, and stop beeing hypocrites, follow Clichy's example."
Jubly
"nil desperandum...I think with the torrent of criticism he will have to go and buy some quality players for next season - the board will not keep on accepting the same excuses season after season, especially if that commie buys them out - can't see him being bullshitted "
perrygroves
"WOULD BE NICE TO SEE SOME HONEST COMMENTS FROM THE POOL REGARDING THE REF'S DECISIONS...."
phoenix
"Finally some honesty, Toure and Wenger were talking a lot of hog wash..."
Keddah
"#qu1rkz I remember they winning the Cup winners cup in '94 and being in the final the year after (and in '80), I also remember them bein' in 2000 UEFA Cup final having won it in 1970 oh and in 2006 Champions League final, that'd make 6 times in the final... which is past the quarter-finals I think"
BackInTheDay
"Lifelonggooner....As a Man Utd fan I can't believe you'd actually question whether or not Arsene should be the man in charge come next season. I agree totally however with your comments about his lack of desire to pay market rates for established players. This has been, and continues to be the biggest failing for Wenger's sides over the past 3 seasons. Only a matter of months ago it was revealed just how much money the Gunners are now making thanks to their fantastic stadium. If he didn't want the money from the profits to sign the odd big name player then why did the club bother to move in the first place?? "
muhammedcamara
"as far as i kno we stil and only have 3 english team in the cl "
englishtim
"well i have some sympathy for the gooners, having a small squad half the money available to raffa and some key injuries to players they have managed to get within a whisker of the semis and are still comfortably third in the league with a mathmatical chance of winning it. On the other hand Raffa has rotated his larger squad losing and drawing key league matches and is not even close to man united at the top of the table so winning against arsenal is all well and good but a loss to chelsea, man united or barca in the final will represent another wasted season after spending massive sums of money, do any of us neutrals even beleive pool fans when they talk about their chances at the start of the season, like pompey they are just another cup team and a boring one at that! Mu prediction is a man utd league and cup double. "
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