Wenger rues refereeing decisions

Manager Arsene Wenger said on Friday that Arsenal's [Images] trophy hopes had recently been hit by the worst of run of refereeing decisions against a single team since he arrived in English football.

The Frenchman, who joined Arsenal in September 1996, said winning the Premier League would be the most satisfying achievement of his career after a run of controversial refereeing calls.

The Gunners face leaders and champions Manchester United [Images] at Old Trafford on Sunday, knowing defeat would effectively destroy any remaining title hopes.

"This team has been punished in the last seven weeks more so than any team I have seen in England [Images] since I arrived 11 years ago," Wenger told a news conference at the club's training ground.

"Every single decision has gone against this team in every single game recently. That's why, for me, there would be no better victory than this one if we were to do it."

Third-placed Arsenal are six points behind United and are still recovering from their heartbreaking Champions League quarter-final defeat by Liverpool midweek, where a controversial penalty allowed Liverpool to go ahead with five minutes left.

Arsenal had also had a penalty appeal of their own turned down in the first leg against Liverpool.

"It was a big blow but we are focused and ready to fight and make life hard for Manchester United," said Wenger.

"I can't understand people who say the team's season is over. Why is it over? We are not too far behind. It depends on what happens on Sunday -- if we win then we can win the title and that's what it's important to focus."

He said that with five games to go the season was far from over and Arsenal would fight all the way to the end.

"What is at stake on Sunday is the work of a whole year. If we go there and don't believe then it is over. But do you really think that we will go to Manchester United thinking that our season is over?" said Wenger.

"That would be ridiculous. We have worked so hard since the first day of the season and we will fight until the last second of the championship."

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