Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has hit out at the declining standards of refereeing in the Premier League after his side were denied all three points against West Bromwich Albion.
The Gunners took the lead seven minutes from time at The Hawthorns on Sunday afternoon, before Jay Rodriguez levelled things up from the spot late on through a contentious penalty call.
Referee Mike Dean adjudged that Calum Chambers moved his hand towards the ball inside the box, though even opposition boss Alan Pardew admitted that the spot kick should not have been awarded.
In the wake of the 1-1 draw in the West Midlands, Wenger has again hit out at the level of top-flight officiating.
"It wasn't a penalty. There was no handball," he told reporters. "It was not a deliberate handball. When you are as close as that, it's impossible to play football. You go in the box, they just lift the ball to the arm of the player and it's a penalty. He didn't lift his hand.
"Where do you put your hands? You have no pockets in your shorts. I'm angry because we have seen the same things again. I did fight very hard for the referees to become professional many years ago and they did a good job to allow them to be professional. But I see no improvement.
"There are two countries in Europe where you have professional referees, in Italy and in England, and not one English referee will go to the World Cup. But everything is all right. We cannot say a word against it because they're untouchable. That is the truth. It's not only me that judges them.
"The referee has not seen it. That's my opinion. He will tell you that he has seen it. But ask him. I don't want to waste my time with them [by speaking to referees after the final whistle]. We have to live with the decision, to swallow it and go to the next game."
Arsenal remain fifth in the Premier League following their fourth draw in six Premier League outings.
Daniel Lewis
