Wenger left searching for positives

Arsene Wenger feels Arsenal must try to take the positives from what was missed opportunity as 10-man Wolves battled to a 1-1 draw at Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners could have capitalised on Monday’s dropped points from Chelsea to climb back up into the top four with victory in a game put back by 24 hours because of industrial action by some London Underground staff on Boxing Day.

However, instead they failed to make up ground on their rivals and indeed fell further behind Tottenham, who coasted to a 2-0 win at Norwich last night.

It had all looked promising when Gervinho fired the Gunners into an early lead on eight minutes, however Arsenal were pegged back before the break by Steven Fletcher’s close-range header.

Wolves then survived the second-half dismissal of midfielder Nenad Milijas by referee Stuart Attwell as inspired goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey denied the home side time and again.

“We missed a great opportunity, but we just have to keep going and take the positives out of the game,” the Arsenal manager said.

“It is frustrating, but I am more frustrated by the result than the performance and the spirit. You cannot fault the attitude or the commitment or the desire to win the game.

“Their keeper had the game of his life, Wolves fought like mad and well done to them.

“I don’t know how many shots we had on goal and how many they had, but it was the kind of game that if you play it 20 times you win 19 and you draw one – and it was this one, which we could not afford.”

Wenger felt his players paid the price for being too tense.

“It was the kind of day where maybe we were not relaxed enough,” he said.

“When you have the luck of the other results, you can take advantage of it, that is where the worrying thing is because in the season you have to take your opportunities.”

Arsenal were without winger Theo Walcott because of a stomach problem, but the England international is expected to be available for the New Year’s Eve visit of Queen’s Park Rangers.

Wenger, though, remained coy over suggestions any loan deal to bring former skipper Thierry Henry back before the Major League Soccer season started again in America.

“No, nothing has happened since last week,” he said.

“I expect nothing at the moment, just to calm down.”

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy had punched the air in delight at the final whistle - which came after six minutes of stoppage time during which Arsenal bombarded the visitors penalty area.

“I am delighted and proud. It was a difficult place to come and play,” he said.

Attwell had shown a straight red card to Milijas for a studs-up challenge on Mikel Arteta. McCarthy indicated Wolves could appeal.

“That rarefied atmosphere out there is a difficult place to work in whether you are a player, coach, manager, referee or assistant,” he said.

“It’s pretty pressurised out there and I think there was a lot of pressure on him to do it.”