City boss slams ref after draw with Arsenal

Manuel Pellegrini accused referee Mark Clattenburg of costing his Manchester City side victory following a 2-2 draw away to Arsenal on Saturday.

Pellegrini insisted a series of major decisions went against the Premier League champion at the Emirates Stadium, claiming there were fouls in the buildup to both Arsenal goals.

The Chilean added City was denied a clear penalty when the ball struck the hand of Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere.

And the manager also compared Clattenburg's performance to his display in City's 3-2 defeat at Liverpool last April when Pellegrini again condemned the referee's decision-making.

"I think that both Arsenal goals were very clear fouls - for the first one, it was two or three continuous fouls on Sergio Aguero and the second one Danny Welbeck pushed Vincent Kompany with no intention of playing the ball and then it was a goal," Pellegrini said.

"The only other doubt is that we were denied a clear penalty for a handball.

"Last season, it was Martin Skrtel with a fist for Liverpool in the six-yard box and today (Saturday) it was Jack Wilshere with two hands on the ball inside the box right in front of the linesman and no penalty is given.

"He (Clattenburg) had a very bad game, he had a bad day today and he had another against Liverpool last season.

"Arsenal scored both goals with fouls. Of course he (Clattenburg) cost us victory."

Aguero put City ahead midway through the first half but Arsenal recovered with goals from Wilshere in the 64th minute and Alexis Sanchez 10 minutes later before Martin Demichelis leveled late.

Both teams start their Champions League group campaigns this week with City at Bayern Munich and Arsenal heading to Borussia Dortmund.

Pellegrini revealed he rested Yaya Toure after the midfielder returned from international duty with Cote d'Ivoire in anticipation of City's trip to Germany.

"Yaya arrived on Friday after a long trip and we have another difficult game on Wednesday and I don't think we have a problem replacing him today."

Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was satisfied with his side's performance, although a late injury to France rightback Mathieu Debuchy dampened home spirits.

"Debuchy has a badly sprained ankle, for how long he will be out we don't know. But it doesn't look good. They need time to assess but it's a bad sprain," Wenger said.

(China Daily 09/15/2014 page23)