ARSENE WENGER has revealed why he had to double substitute Arsenal winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain against Manchester City.
Arsenal lost 2-1 to Premier League title rivals Manchester City last night after surrendering an early lead at the Etihad Stadium.
Gunners winger Theo Walcott opened the scoring with just five minutes on the clock but Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling put the hosts ahead with two second-half goals.
Arsene Wenger brought Oxlade-Chamberlain on in the 68th minute with the game level at 1-1 but was taken off 13 minutes later just moments after Sterling's strike.
It was unclear if the England international, who had been linked with a move to Manchester City over the weekend, was injured as he headed straight down the tunnel.
But Wenger has now confirmed that he was forced to take off the 23-year-old winger after he suffered a hamstring complaint.
The Gunners manager said of Oxlade-Chamberlain after the defeat: "He is injured, it’s a muscular problem. It looks like a hamstring."
Wenger was left furious with the officials after the game as he felt both of City's goals should have been ruled out for offside.
Arsenal player ratings against Manchester City
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Petr Cech – 6
"We conceded two offside goals which is very difficult to accept in a game of that stature," Wenger said.
"But, as it is well known, the referees are protected very well like the lions in the zoo, so we have to live with those decisions."
Asked to clarify his comments on referee Martin Atkinson, he added: "I want them to be very well protected, I want them to be safe, but if they could make the right decisions it would be even better."