Wenger: 'For long periods we were the better team'

Last updated : 25 February 2007 By Chris Parry
"You must keep your calm no matter what. I regret it, but we lost our nerve and that is part of the learning process. That is not what we want.

"A few players were involved but I am not sure if the referee picked the right ones out. I feel he did not have the best of games, especially with Chelsea's first goal. "

"I am very proud of the performance, it was an outstanding display. I am disappointed we lost and I don't think the incident reflects the quality of the game.

"It will help Theo Walcott that he scored a goal like that. I felt in the final third we lacked a bit of maturity.

"For long periods we were the better team but the regrets we have are that we should have put that game beyond Chelsea. In the first half we missed the final ball a few times and I feel in the second half the first to score would win the game and it was them.

"They had a bit more experience and Drogba made the difference. We played exceptionally well and showed great quality but you want the team to be very forceful and take advantage of every chance and I felt we didn't do that.

"I believe we were unlucky with some decisions from the referee. Their first goal was offside and Adebayor was clean through and not offside and in a game of that importance you cannot afford that.

"We came to win and it was difficult to take but we can be very proud."