Arsenal conceded their fourth penalty of the season, the most in the Premier League, in the 67th minute of their draw with Antonio Conte’s side at the Emirates.
Hector Bellerin was judged to have fouled Eden Hazard while he was attempting to clear the ball in the area, though contact seemed to be minimal.
Hazard would cancel out Jack Wilshere’s opener before Marcos Alonso gave Chelsea a lead they only lost in added time, when Bellerin gained redemption with a curling effort.
“It was a good game where we saw fantastic actions on both sides, a game where we have shown great mental resources,” Wenger said. “I knew before the game that the last 20 minutes would be difficult for us because we have a big disadvantage with the schedule.”
“We got again a farcical decision on a penalty but we knew that before so we have to deal with that.”
I don’t know [if it was a penalty]. I don’t want to talk about that. I’m fed up with that.”
When asked what he meant when he said he knew Arsenal would suffer a “farcical decision”, Wenger added, “I mean nothing.”
“You are always more intelligent than everybody so you can guess what happens.”
Wenger pointed to last night’s 2-0 victory for Tottenham against Swansea, a match where Davinson Sanchez avoided a second yellow card, as further proof of a decline in refereeing standards that he believes should be a matter for greater discourse.
He said, “The referees get away with the English press always, no matter what they do. You have watched the game last night [Tottenham’s victory], you couldn’t read a line about it [the officiating] today. Nothing will change. We have to deal with that and live with that.”
“Nobody talks about it. That means nothing will change.”
“You watch the game like I watch it. You [journalists] are important. You defend football.”
As to whether video assistant referees could help Wenger pronounced himself “very sceptical” before confirming he would “100 per cent” contest the FA’s charge, which relates to comments he made in the officials’ dressing room after the 1-1 draw at West Brom.
Arsenal had borne the brunt of a controversial decision from referee Mike Dean, who handed the Baggies a late penalty when he adjudged Calum Chambers to have handled a cross fired at him from close range by Hector Bellerin.
Wenger said, “I stand by everything I said without any problem. I’m 35 years in football I know what I say after the game. I stand up for what I said.”
“What I find terrible is that we have just seen a great football game and we talk only about things that are nothing to do with football. I would love if at some stage you stand up in the morning and say ‘we’ve seen a great football game’ but you’re not interested in that.”
“For me that would be nice, if at some stage we talk about football again. What are we talking about? Nothing to do with football.”
When it was put to Wenger that the solution may simply be for managers to accept whatever decision is made by the officials, to which he claimed, “That’s what I do. I have no choice.”
“You have to say as well that at some stage at the moment we have to face surprising decisions.”
“[Being sixth in the table] is very frustrating. We have to look at ourselves as well. But still I think it was a great football game and when you look recently our performances have been top quality.”
“The great regret we have is we have not had the results we could have had, certainly on some part our problem but as well on the other side you have to say we have not been gifted with luck.”
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