Wenger anger as City stun Arsenal on day of comebacks

Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger – Reuters

REUTERS: Manchester City produced a thrilling second-half comeback to beat Arsenal 2-1 on Sunday and move above Arsene Wenger’s side into second place in the Premier League, seven points behind leaders Chelsea.

Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton also fought back from a goal down, to beat Burnley 2-1 and Bournemouth 3-1 respectively, to reinforce the league’s reputation for thrills and spills. Chelsea are top with 43 points, followed by City on 36 and then Liverpool, who visit Everton in their game in hand on Monday, and Arsenal with 34, Spurs on 33 and Manchester United with 30 after their 2-0 win at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

Arsenal have suddenly had more than enough disappointment, after also blowing a lead to lose 2-1 at Everton last Tuesday, and Wenger said they had suffered a “horrible week”.

It appeared the opposite at halftime with Arsenal appearing bound for victory on the back of Theo Walcott’s fifth-minute opener as the forward rounded off a stunning three-man move.

The Gunners could have increased their lead before being stunned by a City side, so hesitant in the first half, who took control after the interval with goals from Leroy Sane, his first since joining in the close season, and Raheem Sterling.

Wenger thought both goals were offside, though the decisions were marginal and Arsenal’s manager acknowledged his side came off second best after the break in the physical contest.

“Today we conceded two offside goals,” said Wenger “It’s difficult to accept. I believe there’s a lot going on (regarding ‘bad’ refereeing decisions). It’s hard going into a game like that and you get decisions go against you.

“They (referees) are professional and we are professional and have to stand up for our mistakes.

“We were a bit jaded physically. We played four games from five away from home,” he added.

Walcott, by contrast, said Arsenal had been beaten “by a better side”.

It was City’s first win from a losing halftime position at the Etihad since 2012, although manager Pep Guardiola refused to take the credit, saying “I didn’t say anything to them at halftime”.