Pellegrini in ref rap

The small club from southern Spain was incensed that referee Konrad Plautz refused to award a penalty for a challenge by Gilberto Silva on José Mari after 45 minutes.

"Talking of the penalty, I think that he did not whistle for us", said coach Manuel Pellegrini of the official. "In the end he did not demonstrate impartiality".

Club president Fernando Roig was supportive of his coach. "The play (involving) José Mari ended in a foul, inside or outside the area".

Replays indeed seemed to show that Gilberto Silva had brought down the player just inside the box.

Arsenal boss Arsène Wenger had reservations of his own.

"I don't want to comment at all on the offside involving Henry, but I have doubts that he was offside".

On his team's victory, Wenger was cautiously optimistic.

"We had a good game, but at the last could not score more goals...I believe it is a good result but we'll know after the second game. We wanted a second goal, but sometimes we were too nervous...I am happy to have beaten the record (of not conceding)".

Arsenal have not conceded a goal in their last nine Champions League encounters.

Pellegrini too was content with the result, if for different reasons.

"I have to say that we had a bad game and because of that the result is not bad...We failed to create any opportunities of danger on the counterattack".

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