Arsene Wenger: 'Referee was not at his best'

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has stated that referee Ovidiu Hategan was wrong to send off Olivier Giroud in their Champions League defeat to Dinamo Zagreb.

The striker was cautioned for dissent by the Romanian official, before collecting a second yellow card in the 40th minute for a foul on Ivo Pinto.

Arsenal went on to lose the match 2-1 and Wenger has suggested that Giroud's dismissal had a part to play in the result.

"We were not at our best, but nor was the referee," Wenger told BBC Sport. "The first yellow is Giroud's fault because he protested, even if it was not a foul against him.

"The second yellow card, he is unlucky to touch the guy - he did not see him. It was accidental completely, but it happened.

"I don't understand the referee. It has to be on purpose, a foul on purpose. Then the referee should have given many yellows."

Giroud will miss Arsenal's next Champions League match against Olympiacos on September 29.