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What They Said: Wenger rues ref's penalty snub

Robin van Persie's goal earned Arsenal a draw with Stoke © Getty Images

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger felt his side should have had a penalty when Yossi Benayoun was bundled over by Glenn Whelan in the 1-1 draw at Stoke. "We have put a fantastic battle in and put in a great spirit. We got what we expected, a fight in the air. It was a fair result overall. But we have regrets with the penalty that was not given and difficult to understand why it was not."

Wenger's counterpart Tony Pulis felt the referee got the penalty call right. "I've just seen the fella [Yossi Benayoun] falling over and for me that's not a penalty. We'll take a point as Arsenal played really well first half."

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez has challenged his buoyant players to finish off the job of securing Premier League survival after moving closer to safety with a stunning 4-0 win over Newcastle at the DW Stadium. "I'm extremely pleased because what we've shown today is a real clinical touch that we have lacked in the past. I thought the 4-0 lead was fully deserved at half-time and there is a real satisfaction that we saw it through.

"It was huge win today and we have two more huge games against Blackburn and Wolves. This result is fantastic for the fans but if we don't achieve our aim of staying in this league then it is going to mean nothing."

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew hailed Wigan for a "brilliant" performance but denied the Latics had dealt a grievous blow to the Magpies' top four hopes, insisting: "Champions League football has not gone away from us by any stretch of the imagination. "We didn't match the intensity of Wigan and in any Premier League game that is going to make you look bad. In the first 30 minutes we just didn't get a grip on them."

Bolton manager Owen Coyle on two-goal Kevin Davies, who helped earn a 2-2 draw at Sunderland: "Kevin Davies is in the dressing room annoyed with himself because he gave away the free-kick which led to one of their goals. That's the type of person he is. I've said for the last two months that Kevin's been in outstanding form and he showed that again today. We now have have three huge games ahead of us and it's in our own hands."

Sunderland chief O'Neill was understandably disappointed after seeing victory snatched from his grasp, but admitted it was an illustration of the work which still needs to be done. "It would obviously have been great for us to win because at least for this evening, we would actually have gone into eighth position in the league.

"But I am not sure that we are an eighth-in-the-table team, that's the point. We are where we are. It was frustrating not to win the game today. I am disappointed, of course, but I said here a couple of weeks ago that we have work to do. That's not a problem."

Wolves boss Terry Connor, who saw his already-relegated side come back from 4-1 down to earn a 4-4 draw at Swansea. "Since I took over… every time we've travelled away the fans have been absolutely terrific, right behind the lads, right by myself and they've applauded them at the end of every game. That's credit to those fans who have come and supported us through thick and thin. I'll give a full review [to the Wolves board], give my thoughts, what we've done well and what we haven't done so well. Whatever path the club decide to take next season it will be for the benefit of the football club."

Connor's opposite number Brendan Rodgers: "Obviously I'm a bit disappointed, for the first 30 minutes of the game we were sensational… we lost our concentration before half-time and then second half we just didn't defend well as a team."

Everton manager David Moyes hailed the "massive" contribution from striker Nikica Jelavic as the Croatia international scored twice in the 4-0 victory over Fulham. "Isn't it terrific the difference it has made to the team and the club the goals that have been scored since January? I think he has been massive for us and the two goals for us today were very good."

Fulham manager Martin Jol missed the match because of a chest infection and first-team coach Billy McKinlay admitted explaining the defeat to his boss was not something he was relishing. "I've not spoken to him after the game so I'm not looking forward to that conversation.

"It is always difficult when the manager is not there because you miss his presence but we prepared as we always do for the games. How much it affected us I don't know but obviously it affected us at some point because he is not here and hopefully he will be back Tuesday [at Liverpool]."

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