Arsene Wenger spoke to the media after Arsenal's 2-0 defeat to Chelsea. This is what he had to say:
on the performance…
It was a very intense game. Very tight as well. It was about not making a mistake and not giving the first goal away. After that we were 1-0 down. We had good opportunities in the first half and we have to turn these into dangerous situations and finish them. After that in the second half it was all us and we were a bit unlucky. We made a mistake on the second goal, and the second goal killed the game off.
on what was unlucky…
Because it was a handball.
on whether Cahill’s tackle on Alexis was a red card…
Yes. It wouldn’t surprise you if you watched it again.
on whether he regrets the altercation with Mourinho…
No, what is there to regret after that? I wanted to go from A to B and somebody confronted me in between without any sign of welcome.
on where he was heading…
B was Alexis, to see how badly he was injured.
on what Mourinho said to him…
Honestly I don’t listen to what he says.
on whether he sets a good example…
I trust that you will teach me all the moral lessons over the next three weeks and I can accept that. But I’ve been in the game long enough to give it the right weight.
on whether he did push him…
I can try to push you and when [I do] you will see what my [pushes are really like]. It was a little one.
on if Koscielny and Welbeck were lucky not to be sent off…
Maybe, yes. But I think Oscar was lucky to stay on the pitch because of the repeated fouls he made. He got a yellow card in the 88th minute and he was purposely fouling for the whole game on every break. Ivanovic also made some bad fouls. It’s not down to me.
on Cesc Fabregas’ performance…
He did well but I think in midfield it was very even. At the end of the day it is Hazard and Diego Costa who made the difference.
on Chelsea being well organised…
I believe we were well organised as well and you do not expect them not to be well organised. They are a physical team and have technical individual players. We knew it would be a game that would come down to little details that were on their side. It was a very even game today. If you look at the number of saves our keeper made today, it was nothing. Their keeper as well. The game was who can take advantage of an opportunity that the other team gives away.
on whether it makes him tense…
No, not at all. I think we turned up with a strong performance,with a strong spirit and it was down to very little today. They got it. At the moment we are in full confidence as well. It all went well for them, they are a good side - you cannot deny that. It was a very intense game of the top level.
on whether they were more ruthless…
We couldn’t score and they did, so at the end of the day you have to say yes.
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