Peter Crouch scored a controversial goal which briefly brought Stoke back into their match with Arsenal (Picture: Getty)
Peter Crouch scored a controversial goal which briefly brought Stoke back into their match with Arsenal (Picture: Getty)

Arsene Wenger claims he knew Peter Crouch’s goal should have been disallowed for handball because he was ‘suspicious of the noise of the ball’.

The former Tottenham and Liverpool striker briefly brought Stoke back into a contest they would eventually go on to lose 4-1 with a controversial effort, shortly after coming on as a second half substitute.

Crouch halved the deficit in the 67th minute, punching home Marko Arnautovic’s cross from six yards, much to the dismay of Wenger who angrily confronted the fourth official.

The Frenchman, however, who has made a career of claiming not to see controversial incidents, revealed he could hear something was awry from approximately 70 yards away.

Asked if he had a good view of the goal, he said: ‘No. I was suspicious of the noise of the ball.

Arsenal are now in with a chance of a top four finishing after thrashing Stoke 4-1 (Picture: Getty)

‘I got to the fourth official after it had been confirmed. I was surprised he got to the ball when I saw his position. People told me it was handball.’

Thankfully for Arsenal, Crouch’s transgression did not prove costly as Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud put the gloss on a thumping victory which kept alive hopes of a top four finish.

Liverpool travel to West Ham on Sunday with the pressure now firmly on Jurgen Klopp’s men and Wenger added: ‘One of the qualities of the Premiership is that historically there is a pride in every team to give their best until the end of the season.

‘West Ham did that against Tottenham, Stoke did that against us today. So we just expect the teams to play with full power.’

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