Arsenal boss content with AZ draw

Arsene Wenger maintains Arsenal are still in a 'strong position' to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League despite throwing away victory as AZ Alkmaar snatched a stoppage-time equaliser in the Netherlands last night.

Cesc Fabregas' 35th-minute strike appeared to have set the Gunners on their way to a third straight European win, which would have seem then take control of Group H.

However, the Dutch side, managed by Ronald Koeman, refused to give up and nicked a point at the death through David Mendes Da Silva.

Nevertheless, Arsenal should still safely progress as they are a point clear of Olympiacos - who secured a late win over Standard Liege - and five ahead of AZ.

'We are still in a strong position,' said Wenger.

'We have three games left, two at home, and I believe to win one game will qualify us.

'What I want is for us to continue to play like we do, focus to play better.

'In football, you have to produce the maximum result with your game, and against AZ that did not happen.'

Arsenal really should have seen out the three minutes of added time, but were caught out when a ball into the box had been flicked on by substitute Graziano Pelle.

'You know that in the last five minutes of a Champions League match, anything can happen,' said Wenger.

'They have thrown everything forward and felt they could only score on a set-piece, and that is what happened.

'It is frustrating because we looked closer to scoring a second than conceding, but credit to them, they did fight well and went until the last minute.'

Wenger, who watched his side recover from a nightmare opening five minutes in their last away European tie at Anderlecht last month, added: "We are still learning.

'You do not need to give a free-kick away on an offside in the last minute.

'We were caught a bit naively on the second ball - that can happen sometimes on the first one that you lose the header. But on the second one, their player was completely free to score.'

Arsenal could count themselves somewhat unfortunate not to have been awarded a late penalty for what appeared to be a trip on substitute Carlos Vela.

'To me, it looked like a penalty, but I would have to watch it again,' said Wenger. 'The referee was even closer than I was.'

AZ boss Koeman praised the way his side continued to battle to the end.

'We made some mistakes in the first half, like when we lost possession for the goal,' said the former Netherlands international, whose team have now moved off the bottom of Group H with two points from their three games.

'Arsenal were controlling in the second half, but we kept our spirit.

'I made some changes to try to win the game.

'We could put some long, high balls in for Pelle, then fight for the second ball.

'We never lost the spirit. I am very happy about the result and the performance of the team.'

Given what had happened off the pitch this week with owner Dirk Scheringa declared bankrupt, and the team last night playing without shirt sponsors, Koeman was glad his men stayed focused.

'The situation of the club is difficult,' he said.

'You read more things about what is happening outside of football in the last few days.

'However, the team concentrated well and had a good spirit from the beginning.'