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<H2></H2><SPAN>First Published: Oct 29, 2006</SPAN>
Arsene Wenger berated Everton's "negative" tactics after Arsenal's Premiership title ambitions were dented by a 1-1 draw with the Merseysiders.
The Gunners manager accused David Moyes' side of deliberately wasting time as they attempted to protect the slender lead established by Tim Cahill's 10th-minute goal at the Emirates stadium.
Robin van Persie eventually preserved Arsenal's unbeaten home record with a spectacular free-kick deep into the second half, but that was scant consolation for Wenger as he confronted a seven-point gap to the Premiership joint-leaders Manchester United and Chelsea.
His anger was chiefly aimed at the visitors' goalkeeper Tim Howard. Wenger was antagonised by the American, not only for his string of excellent saves, but also by his unhurried approach to taking goal-kicks.
"It's very frustrating when you don't win against a side who do not have a single shot on target apart from their goal and when you have 70 per cent of the ball," Wenger said.
"Everton defended very intelligently and with great spirit, but they also broke up the game a lot and that is the way football is going, unfortunately.
"It's hard to take but there is nothing we can do. I have nothing against negative football when it is played in the right spirit but when you have to wait two minutes for the goalkeeper to take a kick, and watch him go backwards and forwards across his six-yard box, the game I think becomes less enjoyable."
Wenger had a point, but his grievances should have been directed towards his own players, who produced one of their most lethargic performances of the season.
Despite falling behind in the 10th minute when Cahill capitalised on Kolo Toure's botched attempt to clear Mikael Arteta's corner by shooting in from close range, Arsenal spent most of the afternoon engaged in the sort of pretty, but purposeless, passing moves which have become their unwanted hallmark.
Although Howard saved smartly from Francesc Fabregas' 20-yard drive and Thierry Henry's towering header, Everton's rear-guard action was largely comfortable.
Henry even found himself the rare target of criticism, with one misplaced pass drawing a markedly grouchy response from the 60,000-strong crowd.
"In many aspects of the game we did very well but in the final third we lacked sharpness, vision and determination to attack crosses," Wenger added.
"When you play against a team like Everton, it is even more important not to concede the first goal and we have to be much more rigorous in the way we defend set-pieces. But although we are frustrated I have to applaud the side's character: we were determined not to be beaten."
That perseverance was encapsulated by van Persie, who consummately dispatched a 20-yard free-kick in the 70th minute to restore parity, although even that could not dampen Moyes' good mood.
This was the first time since 1996 that Everton had travelled to Arsenal and avoided defeat, and the Scot's satisfaction was gilded by the knowledge that a draw was secured in the face of both a flu epidemic and his own dismissal from the dug-out in the dying seconds for dissent.
"The performance was gutsy," Moyes said.
"It was a different sort of display to the ones we have produced for most of the season but all credit to the lads for that. Six players were suffering from a bug but they dug deep, which is really impressive and bodes well for the future."
Arsene Wenger berated Everton's "negative" tactics after Arsenal's Premiership title ambitions were dented by a 1-1 draw with the Merseysiders.
The Gunners manager accused David Moyes' side of deliberately wasting time as they attempted to protect the slender lead established by Tim Cahill's 10th-minute goal at the Emirates stadium.
Robin van Persie eventually preserved Arsenal's unbeaten home record with a spectacular free-kick deep into the second half, but that was scant consolation for Wenger as he confronted a seven-point gap to the Premiership joint-leaders Manchester United and Chelsea.
His anger was chiefly aimed at the visitors' goalkeeper Tim Howard. Wenger was antagonised by the American, not only for his string of excellent saves, but also by his unhurried approach to taking goal-kicks.
"It's very frustrating when you don't win against a side who do not have a single shot on target apart from their goal and when you have 70 per cent of the ball," Wenger said.
"Everton defended very intelligently and with great spirit, but they also broke up the game a lot and that is the way football is going, unfortunately.
"It's hard to take but there is nothing we can do. I have nothing against negative football when it is played in the right spirit but when you have to wait two minutes for the goalkeeper to take a kick, and watch him go backwards and forwards across his six-yard box, the game I think becomes less enjoyable."
Wenger had a point, but his grievances should have been directed towards his own players, who produced one of their most lethargic performances of the season.
Despite falling behind in the 10th minute when Cahill capitalised on Kolo Toure's botched attempt to clear Mikael Arteta's corner by shooting in from close range, Arsenal spent most of the afternoon engaged in the sort of pretty, but purposeless, passing moves which have become their unwanted hallmark.
Although Howard saved smartly from Francesc Fabregas' 20-yard drive and Thierry Henry's towering header, Everton's rear-guard action was largely comfortable.
Henry even found himself the rare target of criticism, with one misplaced pass drawing a markedly grouchy response from the 60,000-strong crowd.
"In many aspects of the game we did very well but in the final third we lacked sharpness, vision and determination to attack crosses," Wenger added.
"When you play against a team like Everton, it is even more important not to concede the first goal and we have to be much more rigorous in the way we defend set-pieces. But although we are frustrated I have to applaud the side's character: we were determined not to be beaten."
That perseverance was encapsulated by van Persie, who consummately dispatched a 20-yard free-kick in the 70th minute to restore parity, although even that could not dampen Moyes' good mood.
This was the first time since 1996 that Everton had travelled to Arsenal and avoided defeat, and the Scot's satisfaction was gilded by the knowledge that a draw was secured in the face of both a flu epidemic and his own dismissal from the dug-out in the dying seconds for dissent.
"The performance was gutsy," Moyes said.
"It was a different sort of display to the ones we have produced for most of the season but all credit to the lads for that. Six players were suffering from a bug but they dug deep, which is really impressive and bodes well for the future."
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