Stay in control of the latest Blues news with our Everton newsletter Sign up now Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insisted that Everton's winning goal should not have stood - and took a swipe at the Blues' 'cup' performance at Goodison Park.

After just one victory in their previous 11 matches, Ronald Koeman's side came from behind to beat the Gunners 2-1 thanks to Ashley Williams' late header.

But Wenger maintained the ball had come off home debutant Dominic Calvert-Lewin for the corner that produced the winning goal.

The Gunners boss complained: “Of course it was no corner. You could see it from our side that it was no corner. I think we have to live with the wrong decision and it doesn't explain why we do not head the ball after you know.

“I think I'm really disappointed because [Mark] Clattenburg was in a really good position to see that play and he gave the ball out [off Arsenal] and it's not the first time we've been unlucky with decisions this season.

“Overall I don't want to speak about the referee too much, it's not my problem.”

Wenger admitted that he was disappointed that his side were unable to deal with the in-your-face approach of the Everton players, who were buoyed by a vociferous Goodison crowd.

He said: “We have to look at ourselves, we lost a game. We started well then after that maybe we lost a bit of urgency because we were a bit too comfortable then Everton made it very physical.

“It was a poor goal and from then I believe we disturbed our game, we created less of a flow going forward and unfortunately didn't take our chance or two. We didn't have too many but we had clear-cut chances in the game.

“You can get caught away from home on a corner like that.”

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

Wenger added: “Look we have been nine months unbeaten away from home. You can lose a football game, especially in an atmosphere like that tonight and especially when you play so many games.

“We've played five out of six away from home and had to play the Champions League on Tuesday, a different game on Saturday then we have to come here straight away on Tuesday. I think Champions League teams have a little bit more difficult schedule.”

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

Wenger denied that the atmosphere rattled his players though and questioned whether the Blues are able to keep up such performances on a regular basis.

He said: “We were a little bit less fresh but maybe as well we lost a bit of urgency when we were 1-0 up and perfectly in control of the game. We started to lose some balls that gave Everton hope.

“When you play nine months away from home unbeaten you have that every week.

“[Am I concerned] A little bit yes, it became very physical. They defended well, you have to give them credit, they played a cup game tonight.

“That is a big difference from what I saw recently from them. They did fight for every single ball but I don't think they can repeat that in every single game but they did it tonight.”

There was also something of a melee as the two sets of players left the field at half-time and Wenger was left unhappy by some of Everton midfielder James McCarthy's play, feeling Clattenburg should have done more to curb what he felt was the Republic of Ireland international's aggressive approach.

He said: “I was close to it, I didn't see a lot. There was a little bit of a push but nothing dramatic.

“He was very physical today McCarthy but that's down to the referee but I cannot interfere too much in that. The referee has to make the game respected.”