Arsene Wenger refuses to blame Olivier Giroud after striker was sent off in Arsenal's shock 2-1 defeat by Dinamo Zagreb

  • Arsenal fell to a shock 2-1 defeat against Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday
  • Arsene Wenger refused to blame his selection or Olivier Giroud’s red card
  • Wenger insisted Zagreb’s opener should have been disallowed for offside 

Arsene Wenger refused to blame his team selection or Olivier Giroud’s red card for Arsenal’s shock defeat in Croatia.

Wenger claimed Romanian referee Ovidiu Hategan had been wrong to show Giroud two yellow cards in the first-half, the first for dissent and the second for a trip.

And he insisted Dinamo Zagreb’s opener in a 2-1 win should have been disallowed for offside.


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Arsene Wenger refused to blame his team selection or Olivier Giroud’s red card for Arsenal’s shock defeat

Arsene Wenger refused to blame his team selection or Olivier Giroud’s red card for Arsenal’s shock defeat

The Arsenal boss claimed Romanian referee Ovidiu Hategan had been wrong to show Giroud two yellow cards

The Arsenal boss claimed Romanian referee Ovidiu Hategan had been wrong to show Giroud two yellow cards

'We were a bit unlucky,' said Wenger. 'The first goal is offside and, after, the sending off is very harsh.

'Yes, he was rash. The first yellow is Giroud’s fault because he protested, even if it was not a foul against him. He should not have responded to the referee.

'The second, he is unlucky to touch the guy. I don’t understand the referee. It was accidental completely. It was not a second yellow. It has to be on purpose, a foul on purpose. He should have given many yellows tonight.'

With Saturday’s trip to Chelsea in mind, Wenger made six changes to the team that beat Stoke at the Emirates Stadium last weekend.

Olivier Giroud protests after being sent off towards the end of the opening half for a second bookable offence

Olivier Giroud protests after being sent off towards the end of the opening half for a second bookable offence

France international leaves the pitch dejected after being seeing red for a rash tackle towards the end of the first half

Giroud leaves the pitch dejected after being seeing red for a rash tackle towards the end of the first half

David Ospina, Mikel Arteta and Kieran Gibbs started for the first time this season. Mathieu Debuchy was also starting his first game for more than a month.

'When you don;’t win the game have to look at yourself and think you haven’t got it right,' said Wenger. 'I don’t believe the players who came in had a bad game but it didn’t work, it didn’t work.

'Ospina is a very good goalkeeper and he showed that again. Petr Cech not having played a full season (last season) I tried to give him some rest mentally. It is the same for goalkeepers as the outfield players.

Arsenal players trudge back to the centre circle after Junior Fernandes doubled the Croatians' lead

Arsenal players trudge back to the centre circle after Junior Fernandes doubled the Croatians' lead

'We were a bit unlucky and we lacked cohesion in some situations. I have to analyse that. We have to look at ourselves. The second goal kills our game. On the corner we were guilty of not defending well, but we had a lot of ball even when it was 10 against 11.

'They defended well, I believe they stopped us in situations without being punished, counter-attacks where we had to play 10 against 11 in one half, very strong situations.

'We were not at our best but nor was the referee.'

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain rubs his face in frustration after conceding the opener through an own goal

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain rubs his face in frustration after conceding the opener through an own goal

Defeat against a team who had not won in the Champions League since 1999 hands the initiative in Group F to Bayern Munich, who beat Olympiakos 3-0.

'Mathematically, we can qualify without any problem,' said Wenger. 'If we produce the performances we want at home. Overall, we had problems to start in every competition this season. 

'We had problems in the Premier League and tonight in the Champions League but we can put that right. It is the first game, let’s see where we stand after six games. Then we can draw conclusions.'

Oxlade-Chamberlain consoles Giroud after the Arsenal striker added to his list of missed opportunities

Oxlade-Chamberlain consoles Giroud after the Arsenal striker added to his list of missed opportunities