Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was relieved to see his side grab a last-gasp equalizer to salvage a 2-2 Premiership draw with holders Manchester United on Saturday. The Frenchman was surprised to see that William Gallas' injury time strike was allowed by referee Howard Webb, but believes it was justice. "The referee interrupted the game and I thought he had given a free-kick against us for offside, so I had a surprise because the ball was in," Wenger was quoted as saying by Sky Sports. "It was fantastic for the linesman because he was on the wrong side. He saw it, I don't know how but when you see it on television the ball was in by a yard." The Arsenal coach was satisfied with his young players' character, which he believes to be the key in overcoming a 'very good' United side. "Our character was tested twice. We were down and came back against a very good Manchester United side. They looked as if they could always take advantage of any mistake we made. "They have clinical players and they did that well but they didn't create a lot. Overall it was a fair result. "In the first half we played with the handbrake on and in the second half had more freedom but we didn't find our flowing game completely. We had to rely on character and determination."
Gallas' goal was the main talking point of both managers Fergie Moans Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson blamed referee Webb for allowing Gallas' goal as he claims a foul against Louis Saha. "I think Howard Webb has a great chance to be the top referee but today was a big game for him and, at times, he favored Arsenal," Ferguson told MUTV. "Their second goal came from him not giving a free-kick for a foul on Louis Saha on the far side. It should have been a foul for us." Apart from his criticism to the referee, Ferguson also held his players responsible for letting in Arsenal's killer goal. "I think we have thrown it away. At 2-1 you think you've won the game and for them to get a second goal when they did - for us to give it away in injury-time - it is very hard to take I can tell you. It is a fact that they got out of jail. "We spoke about it at half-time, the importance of not letting them back in and we started the second half well and then we lose a goal from having our own throw-in near their corner flag. It's amazing. It's criminal."
