Arsenal could have easily had a penalty in the recent FA Cup match against Swansea according to the Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. The Frenchman saw his team manage only a 2-2 draw with Swansea, which means that the game will be taken to a replay at the Emirates stadium. This is something that Wenger would have wanted to avoid at all costs because it is yet another extra match for the team that is already tired due to a lot of football in recent weeks. Arsenal looked like having clinched the path to the fourth round after two goals in the last 10 min.
They helped Arsenal cancel out the early second half goal from the Swansea striker Michu. It looked like Arsenal are heading out of the competition in the third round of the first team after many seasons, but goals from Podolski and Kieran Gibbs helped them get ahead in the match. However, they could not enjoy the job for longer after Graham equalised for Swansea only a few minutes later to pick the game into the replay match that will take place at the Emirates stadium. It is an unwanted fixture pileup for Arsene Wenger’s men. Wenger has criticised the officials for not giving his team a penalty in the match.
“It was a penalty. The referee [Howard Webb] didn’t give it because he thought it [the alleged foul] wasn’t deliberate, but Aaron didn’t trip himself. He was clipped by the Swansea player. I’m frustrated because I didn’t want another game but, if it’s a choice between playing again or going out of the Cup, I’ll take the replay every time. He is a good player and he had a good game,” said Wenger about his opinion about the penalty, the game, and the Swansea defender Bartley.
