Wenger Blame Team

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger accepted his side had only themselves to blame after throwing away a two-goal lead for the second time in a week as Fulham battled back to earn a 3-3 draw at the Emirates Stadium.Though early goals from Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski put the Gunners in control, Fulham rallied before half-time through Dimitar Berbatov and Alex Kacaniklic's strikes. Indeed Giroud had to cancel out a Berbatov penalty before the Gunners, in added time, were denied a winner by Mark Schwarzer's penalty save from Mikel Arteta.

"It was frustrating because we had the opportunities to win,” said Wenger. “We were caught in a bit too comfortable of a position because we did the most difficult thing – we scored two goals to go 2-0 up. At that moment we lacked urgency defensively. "In the second half we gave absolutely everything and I have to give credit to the players, in the last three games what they have done physically is amazing. "Even at 3-2 down we didn't give up and continued to go forward and we had the chances to win the game." Fulham manager Martin Jol reflected on "so many mixed feelings" about the final result of a dramatic encounter. "We played some fantastic stuff," he said. "Before the game we said we would try to dominate them, which is hard here, but we managed that." "I can't remember being 2-0 down - especially here - then being 3-2 ahead and we could have scored two or three goals after that. "I really thought this could be the first time ever to beat them away, but in the end it was not to be. "However, if you concede a penalty in the last 20 seconds and then still do not lose, maybe we should be pleased in hindsight."

Ranking: 5

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