Wenger blames pitch and referee for Arsenal loss

MOSCOW, Oct 18 (Reuters) Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger blamed a poor pitch, some dubious decisions by the referee and linesmen and the freezing Russian weather for his team's 1-0 defeat by CSKA Moscow in their Champions League Group G match.

Brazilian playmaker Daniel Carvalho blasted the Russian champions ahead in the 24th minute yesterday, ending Arsenal's run of six consecutive wins in all competitions, including their previous two Champions League games against Hamburg and Porto.

Wenger was particularly angry at Spanish referee Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez, who disallowed a Thierry Henry strike in the 86th minute, which would have given Arsenal a share of the points.

Instead of allowing the goal to stand, the refree judged that Henry had handled the ball, and booked him.

''It was a goal but sometimes referees cancel good goals because they don't see things,'' Wenger told a news conference.

''Tonight, we had a new thing because they cancelled the goal after they saw things that didn't exist. It was a very bad decision.'' Henry was incensed by the referee's decision, telling Sky Sports News: ''I asked the ref what did he see and he couldn't tell me.

''It was a clear goal from me, whatever you want to say about it.'' Wenger was also upset about the bad pitch at the Lokomotiv stadium and cold Moscow weather. The temperature was just 2C when the match kicked off.

''The quality of the pitch was a big handicap for us,'' he said.

''We had an October pitch in Russia and UEFA must look into it because it is not acceptable to play on a pitch like that in the Champions League.'' Victory for the hosts sent the Moscow side to the top of the group on seven points, one ahead of Arsenal.

CSKA coach Valery Gazzayev praised his team's effort.

''I just take my hat off to them,'' he said.

''It was a very, very tough game, thus our victory is even more precious. We also used the right tactics.'' CSKA keeper Igor Akinfeyev, who only had to make a couple of saves to keep a clean sheet for the third consecutive Champions League game, said his team deserved to win.

''We controlled the game,'' said the Russian international.

''Only in the end they tried to pin us back but it was easy to read their tactics as they only used long balls into the box.'' Reuters PM DB0903