O'Leary raps referee

Report: Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal

Aston Villa boss David O'Leary described the referee's decision for Arsenal's first goal as "a joke".

Thierry Henry scored with a quickly-taken free-kick in the 2-0 win while Villa players lined up their wall.

O'Leary said: "You could say we were hard done by. The ref (Mark Halsey) told my players to give Arsenal 10 yards and they've gone back.

"He was on the ball and then gets out of way and let's Henry take it. It was a joke decision in my opinion."

He added: "We did what the ref said and were waiting for a whistle after that.

"My players said he told them to move back and they waited for the whistle."

O'Leary was also unhappy about the penalty, which Halsey awarded after Kanu had been body-checked by Olof Mellberg in the Villa.

"No chance that it was a penalty," he said. "They Arsenal know it themselves.

"At least it's out there and everyone has seen it. It wasn't a penalty - end of story.

You are under no obligation to give a whistle for any free-kick Referee Mark Halsey

"The result hinged on two decisions. They are quality players but there was nothing in the game but those calls.

"We can take a lot from this into our Carling Cup semi-final against Bolton. We gave a good account of ourselves."

Halsey, however, defended his decision to allow Henry to take the quick free-kick which put the Gunners ahead.

He explained: "With the free-kick given to Arsenal outside the box for a foul on Patrick Vieira I gave the option to Thierry Henry 'do you want to take it quickly or do you want the wall 10 yards'?

Villa were good enough for at least a draw and have been robbed of points From Villa 4Life Have your say on 606

"His reply was 'a quick free-kick'. I stood back and made a quick signal for him to go on and take it - I didn't say to the Aston Villa players 'move back 10 yards'.

"I can understand their frustration at conceding a goal that way - but I'm under no obligation to inform the Aston Villa players that Henry was going to take a quick free-kick.

"I also gave the option of a quick free-kick to Juan Pablo Angel and he said he wanted 10 yards - so in that case you say 'wait for the whistle and I'll get them back 10 yards'.

"You are under no obligation to give a whistle for any free-kick."