Arsene Wenger slammed Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling for “diving” and gave a scathing assessment of the standard of officiating in the Premier League, claiming it “drops every season” after Arsenal’s 3-1 defeat at the Etihad Stadium.
City’s third goal frustrated Arsenal even more, as David Silva teed up Gabriel Jesus for an easy finish despite the Spaniard appearing to stray offside in the build-up.
“Of course, Man City are on a high, but I felt we had plenty of dangerous situations and chances and I would say overall, once again, the referee made the decisions today with a soft penalty and an offside goal.
“We are used to it. We had two offside goals against us last year [at the Etihad]. I feel they [referees] don’t work enough.
“The referees don’t work enough because the level drops every season and it’s unacceptable what happens.
“The physical level [of the officials] is very good, it’s the decisions [that are not very good].
“I believe it was no penalty,” Wenger added to BBC Sport. “We know that Sterling dives well, and he does that [win the penalty] very well.”
