Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger calls decision to award Chelsea a penalty when Eden Hazard went down as 'farcical' before admitting he '100 per cent' plans to appeal his FA charge

Arsene Wenger branded referee Anthony Taylor’s decision to award Chelsea a penalty ‘farcical’ as he launched another scathing attack on English officials.

Hector Bellerin scored a last gasp leveller for Arsenal after Antonio Conte’s side had battled back from Jack Wilshere’s opener thanks to goals from Eden Hazard and Marcos Alonso.

But Wenger was still left fuming at Taylor’s decision to award Chelsea a crucial spot-kick after the referee ruled Bellerin had fouled Eden Hazard, allowing the Belgian to equalise from the spot.


Arsene Wenger was left disgruntled after Eden Hazard won a second-half penalty for Chelsea

Arsene Wenger was left disgruntled after Eden Hazard won a second-half penalty for Chelsea

Hazard went down after he felt Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin make contact with him 

Hazard went down after he felt Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin make contact with him 

Replays show Bellerin made minimal contact with Hazard’s foot, nevertheless Wenger was seething at what he believed was another injustice.

‘The regret we have is we were first to score and after that we have a farcical decision,’ said Wenger.

‘I’m fed up with that. The referees get away with it no matter what they do. Nothing will change. So we have to deal with that and to live with that.

Referee Anthony Taylor awarded a penalty when the Belgian went down inside the Arsenal box

Referee Anthony Taylor awarded a penalty when the Belgian went down inside the Arsenal box

‘I accept the decisions, I have no choice. But you have to say as well, at some stage, in football you have to stand up for the referee’s decisions. 

‘But you have to say as well, at the moment we have to face surprising decisions.’ 

Meanwhile, Wenger is set to appeal a FA misconduct charge for his foul-mouthed tirade at referee Mike Dean after the official awarded West Brom another controversial penalty in Sunday’s 1-1 draw.

‘I will contest the charge 100 per cent, you can listen to every interview I said, and I stick to everything I said without any problem,’ said Wenger.

‘I am 35 years in football, I know what I say after the game. And I stand up for what I said, no problem.

Gary Cahill celebrates after Hazard's penalty drew Chelsea level on Wednesday night

Gary Cahill celebrates after Hazard's penalty drew Chelsea level on Wednesday night

‘What I find terrible is that we have just seen a great football game and we talk only about things that are nothing to do with football.’ 

Despite Wenger’s gripe with referees, Wilshere was lucky to avoid picking up a second yellow card for appearing to dive under a challenge from Andreas Christensen.

Wenger and Conte both insisted they did not see the incident, but pundit Jamie Carragher insisted Wilshere was lucky.

Carragher said: ’He should have been sent off. He’s fortunate that the referee is blocked by Cesc Fabregas, he hasn’t seen the foul or the dive.’