Mauricio Pochettino was left rueing a “big missed opportunity” after Alexis Sánchez rescued a point for 10-man Arsenal in a 2-2 draw at Tottenham Hotspur that finished with Arsène Wenger angrily insisting referees should also face the media.
Pochettino’s team had looked like inflicting Arsenal’s fourth defeat in a row after Francis Coquelin’s second yellow card early in the second half was followed by two goals from Toby Alderweireld and Harry Kane in the space of two minutes.
Aaron Ramsey’s goal had given Arsenal a half-time lead but, having turned the game around, Pochettino was dismayed that his team could not hold on to apply more pressure on Leicester City at the top of the league.
“After the way we turned it around in two minutes we feel a bit disappointed and frustrated because at 11 against 10 we needed to keep the score that way. So it’s a big missed opportunity. I think with the way we played we deserved more.”
Wenger had a different version of events, arguing that “we have big regrets because I couldn’t see at 11 against 11 how we could drop points”.
The Arsenal manager accepted Coquelin deserved to be sent off but he was angered that Eric Dier was let off a second yellow card after tugging back Olivier Giroud for what appeared to be a clear bookable offence.
“He [Coquelin] knows he made a big mistake,” Wenger said. “At half-time we warned him so I cannot complain about it. But I can complain that Dier was not sent off. I couldn’t understand that and it could have made a difference. I think referees should come into the press conference after the game as well. We are questioned - and they should be questioned as well.”
Wenger admitted Arsenal may now have dropped too many points to be considered realistic title challengers. “I don’t know,” he said, when asked if they were still contenders. “I don’t know what to say any more about that. Everybody is dropping points so let’s see. We have to take encouragement from our performance today and if we reproduce that until the end of the season we might have a chance.”
Spurs are three points better off and Pochettino said his team should not be disheartened. “There are a lot of games ahead – nine games and a lot of points. It is true we missed a big opportunity but we need to be positive.”