Gunners duo unhappy with Dean

The Gunners felt Eboue's strike in the 13th minute should have been allowed. Victory over their rivals would have softened the blow after losing Emmanuel Adebayor for three weeks with a hamstring problem. Eboue was sent off by Dean later in the first half and Gael Clichy also needed stitches in a head wound.

Eboue, who was penalised for a push on Jonathan Woodgate in the build-up to his disallowed strike, said: "It was a goal. I don't know why he did not give it. The referee said I touched Woodgate but I did not."

Wenger added: "It's two points dropped because we had the best chances and we had a regular goal that was cancelled by an illusionary foul seen only by the referee.

"I've seen it three times on television and I still don't see what is wrong, that is why at the end of the day it is frustrating.

"He has seen a push from Eboue but in fact it is Woodgate who has pushed him as well, and stumbled over Adebayor and falls down. You see it again and it is nothing, it is not acceptable in games like that. It is not serious."

The match report on Arsenal's official website said the decision was correct, but Wenger insisted: "He made a big decision wrong. I cannot say the decision is right - I've seen it on television three times and it is still a goal."

Eboue was also upset at receiving the first of his two cautions. The 25-year-old apologised for his second yellow card, for kicking out at Luka Modric, but felt his initial booking for dissent was unwarranted.

"For the first yellow card I did not say anything bad," Eboue told Arsenal.com.

"I was in front of the ball and I was talking with Manuel Almunia. After that I said [to the referee] you have to whistle before and he said okay. I came back to take my place and then he called me and gave me a yellow card. I don't really understand why."