FURIOUS Arsene Wenger last night launched a blistering attack on referee Mike Dean and insisted the official had been intimated by Old Trafford.
The Arsenal boss was livid at the end of Manchester United's controversial 2-1 triumph and was sent off for booting a water bottle after Robin van Persie's injury-time "equaliser" had been ruled out for offside.
Wenger angrily blasted Dean for AWARDING United a penalty after Wayne Rooney tumbled under keeper Manuel Almunia's challenge - and for REFUSING to give Arsenal one when Darren Fletcher appeared to haul down Andrey Arshavin. And Wenger invented a new word for the English vocabulary as he stormed: "The penalty decision was 'Old Traffordish'. There were a lot of things that happened which were beyond belief."We were the better team and lost. We were better for long periods of the game and we produced the best football.
"Can we deal with it? Yes, I'm convinced we can. We can be a real force."
Wenger also hit out at ref Dean for failing to book Fletcher.
He added: "How that player got away without a yellow card is amazing.
"I felt we played in the right spirit, but I saw one player who made 20 fouls without getting a yellow card and then no one sees it." The Arsenal chief claims his team are being victimised after the negative publicity surrounding Eduardo's penalty claim last week.
Wenger's attack comes just three days after Arsenal striker Eduardo was accused of diving to win a penalty in the Gunners' 3-1 Champions League triumph over Celtic.
The Croatian has since been charged by UEFA of conning the referee and Wenger has leapt to the defence of his player, branding the charge "a disgrace."
Wenger added: "I don't suppose this will be anywhere near as big an issue as Eduardo.
"There are 50 situations like that every weekend, but the Eduardo case has no logic.
"We have clear proof on video that he was touched by the keeper against Celtic. We will prove it."
Rooney went down in similar circumstances, caught by Almunia's outstretched arm inside the area.
The United striker said: "I didn't even think about it - he touched me on the way through. I didn't think there was any doubt about it. It was a penalty."
Wenger was later sent off by Dean when he kicked a water bottle in disgust after Van Persie's injury-time effort was ruled out.
Wenger sent out from the field.
Although William Gallas was clearly offside in the build-up, Wenger booted the water bottle after the assistant referee flagged for the infringement.
The Arsenal chief added: "Don't worry, I'm always in touch with the FA. Yes, I kicked the bottle when the goal was cancelled.
"I was disappointed, what can I say? It was 30 seconds from the end, he told me to go to the stands.
"I suppose it was a spectacular effort. The fourth official spotted it - I didn't know we weren't allowed to do it."
Wenger attempted to climb in to the stands, but was eventually led down the touchline by a security guard amid chaotic scenes.
Dean blew the final whistle moments later but Wenger's conduct will be in his report to the FA.
He faces a warning about his future conduct, but is unlikely to be fined or banned.
Man U new stand in Keeper
United stand-in keeper Ben Foster should have done better with the Arshavin rocket that put Arsenal ahead.
And Old Trafford boss Sir Alex Ferguson admitted: "He's 26, but he hasn't played a lot of games and he lacks that experience.
"He knows he should have done better than that, there is no doubt about it. He has to improve in that area, but he will."
Ferguson also confirmed Rooney is now United's official penalty-taker.
FURY - Wenger can't believe it
Arshavin is brought down by Fletcher but is not given a penalty.
Arsene Wenger is sent from the touchline by ref Mike Dean
Arsene Wenger takes his place in the 'stands' to the delight of the Old Trafford fansArsene Wenger takes his place in the 'stands' to the delight of the Old Trafford fans
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