Toure finds defeat hard to swallow

Arsenal were minutes away from securing a place in the last four after Emmanuel Adebayor levelled the tie at 2-2, but Liverpool went up the other end almost immediately and were awarded a controversial penalty - which Steven Gerrard smashed home - before Ryan Babel wrapped things up in stoppage time.

"We came back into it and then Liverpool got a penalty which was really hard to accept," he said. "The referee gave the foul against me, but I just moved away from him (Babel) and I think Cesc (Fabregas) caught his hand maybe, which was outside the area anyway - but that is the game and the referee has given the penalty. What can you do?"

Toure declared: "We just need to think about the Premiership now and see how far we can go."

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger considered the penalty which swung the game late on was "dodgy" and a "gift" from the Swedish official, maintaining his side had been the victim of bad decisions in both legs.

At the Emirates last week Arsenal were denied a spot-kick when Dirk Kuyt pulled back Alexander Hleb - and on Tuesday night they were on the receiving end of a controversial decision.

"I felt at that stage the game was over at 2-2. Then there was a dodgy penalty and we started to lose concentration," lamented Wenger.

"Over the two games this is hard to swallow. The big decisions over penalties in both matches have gone against us.

"It is difficult to take, the players in the dressing room were very down because they believe week after week the decisions are going against them.

"It was not a penalty, I have seen the replay - but we were denied a clear penalty last week. That was a real penalty, this one wasn't."