Arsene Wenger rues "very harsh" Wigan Athletic defeat

By Robert Summerscales, Reporter | 17 April 2012

Arsene Wenger admits that Arsenal were not at their best during the shock 2-1 home defeat to Wigan Athletic but feels that the result was "still very harsh".

Arsene Wenger has admitted that Arsenal were not at their best during the shock 2-1 home defeat to Wigan Athletic but he felt that the result was "still very harsh".

Two goals in the first eight minutes from Franco Di Santo and Jordi Gomez gave the Latics an early advantage and, despite responding with a Thomas Vermaelen goal midway through the first half, the Gunners could not muster an equaliser.

"I feel we were a bit unlucky tonight," Wenger told Sky Sports News. "Wigan played well, but there was a lot of possession on our side, and we got caught a few times on the counter attack.

"I concede we were not at our best, but it was still very harsh to lose the game like that.

"They defended well. In the second half we didn't create a lot because we were not patient enough to build our game from the back."

Wenger also revealed that the injury which forced Mikel Arteta to be replaced after nine minutes was "a serious one" and could keep the Spaniard out for the rest of the season.