Wenger says penalty award correct

Wenger said the penalty decision changed the game

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes his side deserved to win a penalty in the 2-1 away victory over Hamburg.

The Bundesliga side had keeper Sascha Kirschstein sent off early on for tripping Robin van Persie in the side's Champions League Group G game.

"I have not seen a replay but it looked a penalty," said Wenger.

"I feel you have to show a bit of compensation for the keeper as he has to go for the ball in the box. But for me it was a penalty."

News conference: Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger

The incident was reminiscent of last season's Champions League final when Arsenal lost to Barcelona after Jens Lehmann was sent off in the 18th minute for bringing down Samuel Eto'o.

"It was a very promising game until the goalkeeper was sent off," added Wenger.

Unfortunately it happened to them what happened to us in the final."

Lehmann sympathised with Kirschstein, who was very upset by his red card, and the Arsenal goalkeeper called for a rule change to ensure games were not damaged as sporting spectacles.

I am convinced we would not have lost with 11 men Hamburg coach Thomas Doll

"I find it unbelievable," said Lehmann. "The rule has to be changed. I think Van Persie was fouled but the fact that the keeper was sent off ruined the whole match."

Hamburg coach Thomas Doll disputed both the penalty award and Kirschstein's dismissal.

"I cannot understand how you can give a penalty for that and how you can send our keeper off on top of that," said Doll.

"It of course ruined our whole game plan.

"For me, it wasn't a penalty. He trod on the goalkeeper's hand. You can see it clearly from the replay.

"When you go 1-0 down to a team like Arsenal so early in the match then of course it's difficult to win.

"I am convinced we would not have lost with 11 men."

Meanwhile Wenger revealed that his side is despreate to make up for last season's disappointment in losing in the final to Barcelona.

He said: "You want to justify what you achieved last year and it is an enticement to come back and win the trophy.

"Somewhere inside all of us, the frustration for us is so deep that we want to come back and win it."