Anger: Arsene Wenger question the referee's decision
Arsene Wenger blamed a 'dodgy' penalty decision for Arsenal's Champions League exit as Liverpool set up another semi-final showdown with Chelsea in controversial style at Anfield last night. Angry Wenger claimed his side had suffered an injustice as Swedish referee Peter Frojdfeldt pointed to the spot just seconds after Emmanuel Adebayor appeared to have given Arsenal victory on away goals in the 84th-minute.
Steven Gerrard converted it and Ryan Babel added a fourth in added time to leave Arsenal's exasperated manager rueing his luck over penalty decisions and bemoaning his side's inability to see out the final six minutes, after Adebayor had made it 2-2 on the night.
Reflecting on Dirk Kuyt's unpenalised tug on Alexander Hleb's shirt in the first leg, and Kolo Toure's slight contact with Babel last night, Wenger said: 'Those penalties were the difference. Last week, a clear penalty to us was not given. Now, a dodgy one goes against us.
'It was not a penalty. All the big decisions went against us. 'Sometimes, you have to swallow what you can't swallow, 'It is disappointment after disappointment, week after week. They are in shock. 'They feel it was an injustice, and they are having great difficulty accepting what has happened. 'If you lose to a team who finish on top, OK.
Fall-guy: Toure tussled with Babel (top), lost him (middle) and then put an arm round him
'But that was not the impression we had. We didn't help ourselves with a lack of concentration so soon after scoring our second goal. 'We were through after controlling so much of the game, but we showed a lack of maturity defensively and it cost us. 'I thought we showed fantastic mental strength to come back from 2-1 down, and we should have gone on and scored a third.
'But we've have made too many big mistakes at the back.' Rafa Benitez admitted he feared Adebayor's late equaliser, following a dazzling run by Theo Walcott, had ended Liverpool's dream. 'I feared the worst but the players showed great character to come back like that,' said the Liverpool boss.
'The difference was the belief they showed. Their confidence and quality shone through. 'Now it is Chelsea again, and another tough tie. 'But I intend enjoying tonight because it was another great European occasion at Anfield and a really great match.'
Despite displaying nerves of steel to fire home the all-important 86th-minute penalty in front of the Kop, Gerrard was scathing about his overall contribution. 'That was one of my worst performances in a Liverpool shirt, but I was always confident I'd stick the penalty away,' he said.
'It wasn't about the goalscorers, though because that was a fantastic team performance. 'There were times when Arsenal passed us off the pitch, but we never lost our belief. 'It would probably be unfair on Arsenal to say the better team won over the two games, because they had a lot of possession and showed what a great team they are. 'But we showed what we're about over two legs. We're ready for anyone now.'
Gerrard relished the prospect of Liverpool's third semi-final with Chelsea in four seasons, saying: 'We're ready for them. I honestly feel that over two matches, we're a match for anyone, particularly when you consider the crowd factor. 'Some teams find it impossible here.'
) Hleb's arm was certainly a penalty.
