Oxlade-Chamberlain ‘wasn’t worried’ about Suarez penalty claim

The Gunners ace feels that under-fire referee Howard Webb made the right decision after the Uruguayan went to ground after their collision in the area

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain says Luis Suarez’s penalty claim in Arsenal’s 2-1 FA Cup win over Liverpool was correctly waved away, insisting he “wasn’t worried” about conceding a spot-kick at the time.

The Reds striker went down inside the 18-yard bow under pressure from the England international not long after Steven Gerrard had reduced the deficit from the spot.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers was furious with Howard Webb’s decision to ignore Suarez’s pleas for a penalty but Oxlade-Chamberlain is adamant that he did nothing wrong.
 
“I wasn’t worried at all,” the Gunners ace told the club’s official website. “There are penalty shouts in most games; you just need to worry about the ones that get given. Thankfully, that one didn’t get given.

“The most important thing was we kept it together. We had penalty shouts as well and I think that’s what made it such a good game.
 
“Credit to Liverpool, they made it really tough for us again. They’re a really good side but we’re just delighted to beat them.”

Oxlade-Chamberlain was delighted to send Arsenal on their way to victory by netting the opener at the Emirates, but praised the overall team performance following a 5-1 humbling to Liverpool in the league just eight days previously.

“Obviously [my goal] got us off to a good start and the start that we needed. The boys kept it together after that and we did well in the first half, we looked dangerous,” said the 20-year-old.

“In the second half we managed to get another early goal which stood us in good stead. After they pulled one back we did well to hold it together at the back and see the game out.

“Lukasz [Fabianski] is a quality keeper and you’ve got to give him so much credit because Wojciech [Szczesny]’s been unbelievable this season and it can be hard for a second-choice keeper, even though he should be a first-choice keeper, he’s that good.”

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