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Agence France-Presse

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger acknowledged that his side’s goalless draw with Besiktas in a Champions League play-off in Istanbul Tuesday was a fair result for a “difficult” game but blasted the performance of the referee.
The Serbian referee Milorad Mazic sent off Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey for a second bookable offence, neither of which an angry Wenger said were justified.
“I think not the first, not the second yellow card was deserved for Ramsey,” Wenger told reporters.

“When you see some of the fouls committed and you go home with a red card for Ramsey it is somewhat unbelievable.
“In the second half the performance of the referee was very bad,” he said, noting that infringements by Besiktas went unpunished.
Wenger – whose 100 per cent win record in Champions League play-off matches came to an end after 12 wins in 12 – described the game as a “difficult match played at a high pace” and praised the opposition for playing at “100 per cent”.
Asked how he felt with the result, Wenger said he thought it a fair outcome from a tough game.

“We always want to win, but look, Besiktas could have won the game and maybe we could have won.
“Maybe a draw is a fair result as both teams had chances to win the game.”
On the return leg in London, Wenger said: “We know that Besiktas is a good team, we know the game will be tight, but task is clear.”
Wenger expressed admiration for Slaven Bilic’s side. “We faced a very good Besiktas team tonight. Their committment was fantastic.”

Croatian was himself sent to the stands in the dying minutes for protesting at a failure to penalise an Arsenal player for a foul on one of his team but expressed satisfaction with the result.
“It was a great game of football; it was not a dull 0-0. I am really proud of my players, they stuck to their plan,” Bilic said.
“From my point of view we were closer to beating them. We did not score from our chances but I have nothing against my players, they were fantastic all of them.”
“I was really hoping we could win this game,” added the 45-year-old former Croatia national coach.

Bilic expressed optimism that his side could spring an upset on the return leg in London.
“If we play like this we are capable of creating chances against any team,” he said.
“We are going to go to London not just for shopping in Harrods but we are going to go to fulfil -- some would say our dream – I would say our plan.
“We are full of confidence, we have a great atmosphere in the team,” added Bilic, who had a spell as a player playing for London-based West Ham.
Bilic said he had apologised to the referee at the end of the game for the argument that saw him sent off but insisted he had not misbehaved.
“It was not swearing, I was just unhappy and after the game I apologised. Maybe I over-reacted, my mistake, nothing serious happened,” he said.
Elsewhere, a superb Gonzalo Higuain goal rescued Napoli in a 1-1 draw with visitors Athletic Bilbao.
Jonatan Soriano struck the woodwork three times and scored in Salzburg’s 2-1 win over visiting Malmo, Bayer Leverkusen won 3-2 at FC Copenhagen and a late goal gave Steaua Bucharest a 1-0 home win over Ludogorets Razgrad in the other first leg ties.


Arsene Wenger blasts referee after goalless draw in Turkey

Arsenal's Olivier Giroud (L) fights for the ball with of Besiktas' Pedro Franco (R) and Ersan Gulum (bottom). Photo: Reuters

Aaron Ramsey trudges off. Photo: Reuters

Slaven Bilic shouts at the referee. Photo: Reuters

Steaua Bucharest's Alexandru Chipciu (L) reacts after scoring against PFC Ludogorets Razgrad, with Lukasz Szukala. Photo: EPA

Napoli coach Rafael Benitez gestures during their draw with Atletico Bilbao. Photo: AFP

Sport

Football

Aaron Ramsey sent off in Champions League qualifier


Arsene Wenger blasts referee after goalless draw in Turkey

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Aaron Ramsey sent off in Champions League qualifier

Aaron Ramsey sent off in Champions League qualifier