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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Wenger shrugs off Porto draw jibe | Wenger shrugs off Porto draw jibe |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has played down allegations of contriving a draw with Porto in the Champions League. | Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has played down allegations of contriving a draw with Porto in the Champions League. |
| The two teams needed a draw to reach the last 16 and both sat back in the final stages of a goalless encounter in which Porto twice hit the woodwork. | |
| "It was not a good advert for football," said Wenger. "I think it only happened in the last five minutes but the game was very fair. | "It was not a good advert for football," said Wenger. "I think it only happened in the last five minutes but the game was very fair. |
| "Both teams tried and Porto until the 85th minute tried very hard to win." | "Both teams tried and Porto until the 85th minute tried very hard to win." |
| Interview: Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger | Interview: Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger |
| He added: "The result does not reflect the chances Porto had. | He added: "The result does not reflect the chances Porto had. |
| "I felt they took a lot of risks and it was very difficult to predict a 0-0. I concede we did not create a lot. | "I felt they took a lot of risks and it was very difficult to predict a 0-0. I concede we did not create a lot. |
| When you play every three days you can be less sharp sometimes Arsene Wenger | When you play every three days you can be less sharp sometimes Arsene Wenger |
| "Overall, I feel that it is normal in the last few minutes the teams do not take any gambles as if you concede a goal you are out." | "Overall, I feel that it is normal in the last few minutes the teams do not take any gambles as if you concede a goal you are out." |
| Wenger believes his side's cautiousness and lack of threat was a culmination of the situation surrounding the match and the team's busy schedule. | |
| "Porto played well," he said. "But we were a bit flat physically and maybe over-cautious when we won the ball. | "Porto played well," he said. "But we were a bit flat physically and maybe over-cautious when we won the ball. |
| "It was a nervous performance because we knew to go out would have been a massive disappointment. | "It was a nervous performance because we knew to go out would have been a massive disappointment. |
| "We didn't go forward enough or give enough support to Emmanuel Adebayor. | "We didn't go forward enough or give enough support to Emmanuel Adebayor. |
| He added: "When you play every three days you can be less sharp sometimes. | He added: "When you play every three days you can be less sharp sometimes. |
| Winning the group means playing the second game of the next round at home and in a knockout competition that's important Arsene Wenger | Winning the group means playing the second game of the next round at home and in a knockout competition that's important Arsene Wenger |
| "The good thing is we didn't make any stupid mistakes despite having a young side, although we were lucky when they hit the post." | "The good thing is we didn't make any stupid mistakes despite having a young side, although we were lucky when they hit the post." |
| Ultimately, the result was inconsequential as CSKA Moscow lost in Hamburg as they failed to get the win they would have needed to have a chance of overtaking either Arsenal or Porto. | Ultimately, the result was inconsequential as CSKA Moscow lost in Hamburg as they failed to get the win they would have needed to have a chance of overtaking either Arsenal or Porto. |
| The Gunners finished top of the group and Wenger feels this could be crucial when the competition restarts with the knockout phase in February. | The Gunners finished top of the group and Wenger feels this could be crucial when the competition restarts with the knockout phase in February. |
| 606 DEBATE: Can Arsenal win the Champions League? | 606 DEBATE: Can Arsenal win the Champions League? |
| "Winning the group means playing the second game of the next round at home and in a knockout competition that's important," said Wenger. | "Winning the group means playing the second game of the next round at home and in a knockout competition that's important," said Wenger. |
| "We needed to qualify and we did so even though we were missing some experienced players. | "We needed to qualify and we did so even though we were missing some experienced players. |
| "Now we can put the Champions League into the cupboard until February and focus on the Premiership." | "Now we can put the Champions League into the cupboard until February and focus on the Premiership." |