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Arsenal 'panicked' says angry Wenger

Arsene Wenger saw the smile wiped from his face as Newcastle came back to grab a draw © PA Photos

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An angry Arsene Wenger admitted his side 'panicked' after Abou Diaby's sending off and allowed Newcastle to come back from 4-0 down to draw 4-4 in their Premier League clash.

Diaby was sent off in the second half after reacting angrily to a challenge from Joey Barton, and Newcastle seemed to be galvanised by the incident as they roared back into the game - with Cheik Tiote's 30-yard strike giving them a share of the points in a dramatic game that also saw Barton convert two penalties.

Wenger could not hide his anger after the game, admitting his side struggled with the decisions made against them.

"It was a good game, there was a lot of intensity," Wenger said. "We saw many turning points, of course, and I think the first sending off was very detrimental to us. It gave Newcastle hope. After that we were under pressure because we have played a lot, and we had problems to finish in the second half.

"I felt that it became difficult at 4-1. At 4-0 we were quite comfortable but then we panicked a little bit. I also think we were a bit unlucky on occasions. We have to take it on the chin, and take the positives from the game."

Wenger would not be drawn on his view of Diaby's sending off, or indeed the penalty decisions given by referee Phil Dowd - who was accused of "inconsistent refereeing" that is "killing the game" by Jack Wilshere - that allowed Alan Pardew's side back into the game.

"I didn't see it well," Wenger replied curtly, when asked about Diaby's dismissal, before repeating: "My opinion is not important."

The Frenchman conceded the result is a blow to the club's title aspirations.

"It doesn't help," he said. "We wanted three points but we only got one - so mathematically that isn't what we wanted."

Wenger seemed to be remonstrating with officials at the final whistle, and seemed further riled when questioned about that and whether Arsenal should have been expected to close the game out.

"Football is not what about what people think, it is about what you do on the football pitch," Wenger said. "Listen, you take a manager's job, you lead 4-0 and then come back to draw 4-4 and you tell me afterwards how you feel."

Pardew was proud of his team's fightback, congratulating the players on an historic effort.

"The reaction was beyond the call of duty," Pardew said. "Second half we put them under pressure, forced the goal, forced the sending off - and then we bossed the game. Amazingly, we could have won it.

"It's a game that the fans here will remember for a very long time."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.