Wenger blasts ref after late collapse

THE season of goodwill to all men?

Not at Craven Cottage, not yesterday.

And if you were looking for a figure that epitomised simmering rage, then the tall, thin figure of a 62-year-old Frenchman stalking the touchline on the banks of the Thames was perfect.

Arsene Wenger was furious, principally at referee Lee Probert. In his view, the official had erred badly in dismissing Johan Djourou for two bookable offences, and he had also made a mistake in not awarding Arsenal a first-half penalty when Gervinho was felled by Philippe Senderos.

“The referee influenced the game in completely the wrong way, in my opinion,” said Wenger. “The first yellow card (for Djourou) is not a yellow card, the second yellow card is a foul for us.

“We would not have been in trouble if we had stayed with 11 men on the pitch. When you see that we finished the game with 10 men it is very difficult to take and that makes a massive difference when you played 48 hours before.

“It was a 100% penalty for us in the first-half and that is that, and plus the fact we did not take our chances makes all the difference. What can I do? You want the right decisions in a game of that importance.’’

Wenger went on to accuse Fulham of deliberately trying to get Djourou sent off.

“When Djourou got the first card, every time he intervened they went down to get him a second yellow and he (Probert) did nothing at all.

“I saw it coming, you know. When they brought on (substitute Kerim) Frei they looked for a second yellow card on Djourou and they got it.”

Quite a list of complaints but ultimately Wenger should look closer to home when dishing out blame.

As his opposite number, Martin Jol, said, Arsenal became complacent after taking a first-half lead through Laurent Koscielny.

The game should have been over before half-time.

It wasn’t, and Fulham made them pay, with Steve Sidwell grabbing a late equaliser before Bobby Zamora shrugged off talk that he will be leaving the club this month by volleying home a late, late winner to send the normally gentile folk of Fulham into loud and prolonged raptures.

Arsenal could scarcely claim they deserved better. They attacked with purpose early on, until Koscielny was granted the freedom of the home penalty area to nod home Aaron Ramsey’s deflected cross.

Then they sat back, seemingly convinced it was job done. They could not have been more mistaken. Fulham flooded forward in numbers, making it difficult to believe this was the same team that had lost 5-0 to Manchester United in their last home game.

Arsenal cracked. Their problems at full-back, where Djourou and Francis Coquelin are rather desperate stand-ins, were exploited.

Djourou lunged in on Mousa Dembele and was booked, although Wenger — ridiculously — claimed that was a poor decision.

When the Swiss player pulled Zamora back, the red was inevitable.

The goals came late, but they were overdue, as Sidwell headed home from almost under the bar after Senderos had nodded the ball back across goal.

Then, in the final minute of injury-time, Zamora was allowed to fashion a low volley that crept in the corner for his first goal since October.

It was, remarkably, Jol’s first victory over Wenger in nine games during his time at Tottenham and Fulham, and after it took his side into 13th he was determined to enjoy it.

“It’s almost an insult to say it’s the first time but you are right,” said the Dutchman. “I had a couple of draws, even away from home, but I didn’t manage to beat them so to do it with Fulham is a great feeling.

“I’m relieved after any game where we get points on the board, and against a top side like Arsenal. We did it against Liverpool and Chelsea before and we have some excellent players who can make the difference, as you saw.”

But what about Zamora? Jol laughed off suggestions that the England international, who has endured a difficult relationship with his manager this season, could leave in the transfer window.

“He never asked me for a transfer, so for me it’s speculation,” he added. “If you are a No.9 at any club and can make the difference, I’m very happy. I love my players, especially when they score goals.”

FULHAM: Stockdale 8, Kelly 7, Senderos 7, Hangeland 6, Riise 6, Sidwell 7, Murphy 6 (Frei, 69; 7), Dempsey 7, Ruiz 8, Dembele 7, Zamora 7.

ARSENAL: Szczesny 6, Djourou 5, Mertesacker 6, Koscielny 8, Coquelin 6, Ramsey 7 (Squillaci, 81; 6), Song 6, Arteta 7, Walcott 4 (Rosicky, 65; 5), Gervinho 6 (Benayoun, 74; 6), Van Persie 6.

Referee: Lee Probert.