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WORRIED: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. PIC/AFP |
Arsene Wenger cast doubt over the future of Arsenal's young forwards after criticising his off-form attackers as a series of missed chances enabled Burnley to claim a famous 2-0 League Cup at Turf Moor Tuesday night.
Two goals from Scottish midfielder Kevin McDonald, who rejected moves to Liverpool and Celtic to join Burnley
from Dundee in July, secured the Clarets' place in the semi-finals.
But a catalogue of poor finishes, most notably by Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner, led to Arsenal's quarter-final exit and manager Wenger admitted that too many of his forwards under-performed.
"We played quite well, but we had six one versus ones and lost 2-0, so that sums it up quite well," he said.
Out of focus
"We just did not have the right focus in front of goal and that made the difference. We lost a game we should never have lost.
"We had plenty of chances but when you do not score, you have to ask why. You can praise their keeper but also question your own strikers.
"Many of my players were not fazed by the game, though, and that is a positive from the game.
"So many of them gave absolutely everything. But in front of the goal, you have to be more clinical than we were and I think we were a bit naive in taking our chances.
"Had we scored at any time, then the complexion of the whole tie would have been different, but it was always us chasing the game and them playing on the counter-attack. That's the easiest way to deal with the game."
Burnley proved too energetic and hungry for Arsenal and the Championship club deservedly added Arsenal's scalp to those of Chelsea and Fulham, who they defeated in previous rounds.
