• Capital One Cup

Wenger not embarrassed after cup humiliation

ESPN staff
December 12, 2012
Arsene Wenger has seen Arsenal win just one of their last six matches © Getty Images
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Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal have no reason to be embarrassed by their Capital One Cup defeat to Bradford.

Wenger has traditionally used the competition to blood his youngsters, but having fielded a near full-strength side, the Frenchman saw the Gunners crash out at the quarter-final stage on penalties.

Thomas Vermaelen's late header secured a 1-1 draw in normal time at the Coral Windows Stadium, but it was the Arsenal captain who missed the decisive final spot-kick after Marouane Chamakh and Santi Cazorla failed with their shootout attempts.

But Wenger refused to criticise his team after they were dumped out by a League Two side, and insisted there was no problem with the players, despite having won just one of their last six matches in all competitions.

"We did absolutely everything for 120 minutes and you have to give credit to Bradford," Wenger said. "You feel embarrassed when you don't give everything, I think they'll be more disappointed and frustrated."

"It was a great cup tie on a tough pitch and I cannot fault the effort from my players. It was a typical English cup tie and Bradford got on top of us. They started stronger than us and congratulations to them.

"We played with basically five strikers but couldn't score. You have to say they defended very, very well. In a cup tie any team always has a chance.

"I don't think there's any psychological problem with the players when it comes to knockout ties. I don't think it's a lack of quality. We will get over this - it is part of our job - and focus on the next game."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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