Wenger pen fury

Wenger: Livid - as per usual

Arsenal crashed out of the Champions League at Anfield on Tuesday night after going down 4-2 to Liverpool (aggregate 5-3)

The Gunners where in pole position at 2-2 after Emmanuel Adebayor tapped home after a blistering run from Theo Walcott with only six minutes on the clock.

It was to be a nightmare end to the match for Arsene Wenger as the Gunners conceded a late penalty when Kolo Toure fouled Ryan Babel.

Steven Gerrard kept his head to score and substitute Babel hammered the final nail in the coffin breaking clear to score just shy of the final whistle.

It was a must win game for Arsenal who are languishing in third in the Premier League table behind Manchester United and Chelsea.

They started well and took the advantage when Abou Diaby scored on 13 minutes, the Gunners struck back with a Phillipe Senderos header before Fernando Torres gave the Reds the initiative with a superb effort with 20 minutes left on the clock.

Arsene Wenger’s response was perhaps a tad predictable; the penalty was a bit soft but when you’re looking at a Champions League semi-final slot and you have to keep it tight for six minutes, you don’t go near nippy defenders in the box – Toure take note!

‘I felt the game was over at 2-2. Then there was a dodgy penalty and we started to lose concentration,’ said Wenger.

‘Over the two games this is hard to swallow. The big decisions over penalties have gone against us.’

‘It is difficult to take; the players in the dressing room are very down because they believe week after week the decisions are going against them.’

Arsenal are now looking down the barrel of another silverware-less season, what’s worse is that bitter North London rivals Spurs managed to bag the Carling Cup.

Liverpool’s fantastic run in Europe in recent seasons continues, they will face Chelsea in the semi-finals for the third time in four years; at least one English side will go to the finals in Moscow.

Michael Ballack continued his great form for the Blues inspiring them to turnaround the deficit after the 2-1 first-leg defeat at Fenerbahce to run out 2-0 winners at Stamford Bridge (3-2 aggregate).

Jose Mourinho suffered twice at the hands of Liverpool in the semi-finals, Avram Grant may not be the most popular man in West London but he’s doing a sturdy job – if he can break the Blues’ Liverpool hex, he may finally get a bit of love from the Chelsea faithful.

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