Arsene Wenger argues Arsenal should have received more penalties against Norwich City

Arsene Wenger lamented the lack of penalties awarded to his Arsenal side at the Emirates Stadium this season after referee Anthony Taylor rejected a strong spot-kick appeal late in their 3-3 Premier League draw with the Canaries.

Robin van Persie had scored twice for the Gunners and, two minutes from time, he looked set to complete his hat-trick and tap in the winning goal from close range, but appeared to be shoved to the ground by City defender Kyle Naughton.

Norwich had two strong penalty claims of their own waved away by referee Taylor in the first half, but in his post-match inquest, Wenger concentrated on what he felt was his own team’s misfortune with decisions. He said: “Here the whole season we have got zero penalties. It is absolutely amazing, because you see other clubs who have had 10 or 11.

“I don’t know why the penalty was not given, we have to accept the decision of the referee.”

Wenger admitted Arsenal had not been “switched on”’, although their afternoon started well with a goal from Yossi Benayoun after just 65 seconds.

“It is more than frustrating because we were very poor in the first half, not switched on,” said Wenger.

“The quality of our first half was absolutely not at the level we wanted to play in a decisive game like that.

“In the second half we did very well and created at least 10 chances, but again we did not take our chances.

“On top of that we gave them a third goal in a situation that was absolutely unbelievable.

“In the end we got punished for our mistakes.

“We have to analyse the reasons why we were not sharp enough in the first half.

“There is no obvious reason because we prepared normally as we always do, and maybe sub-consciously we felt we would win it.

“Norwich played well, you have to give them credit, they did well.”