*Wenger - We deserved it*
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits his side deserved to lose
their unbeaten start to the Premier League season as they slumped
to a 2-1 defeat to Middlesbrough.
An early Stewart Downing penalty and a second half Tuncay Sanli
strike handed Boro the points as Arsenal were only capable of an
injury time consolation through Tomas Rosicky at The
Riverside
Arsenal's lead at the top of the Premier League now stands at one
point after second placed Manchester United comfortably swept aside
Derby at Old Trafford on Saturday.
And Wenger is not making excuses for his side's lacklustre display
in the North-East.
Jaded
"We lost the game because we deserved to lose it,'' said Wenger.
"It's that simple. Middlesbrough were sharper in the fight.
"We missed the start of the game by giving them too much room and
it cost us a penalty.
"From then on, it was down to us being a little bit jaded
physically.
"It was our fourth away trip on the trot.
"We gave absolutely everything to come back. We lacked creativity,
sharpness in our passing, so therefore we were not dangerous enough
to come back into the game.
Sharp
"They defended well, Credit to them, they were sharper than us and
you could see, once we were 1-0 down, if we did not come back
before half-time, it would be difficult.''
However, Wenger does admit his side may be missing their talismanic
midfielder Cesc Fabregas - who was forced to sit out the game
because of injury.
"At the moment we miss many in the same area. Maybe it handicaps a
bit our creative potential," Wenger concluded.
