01/05/2011 15:30, Report by Adam Marshall
The Welshman's goal came from the only threatening shot on target from the hosts, with the visitors still reshaping the midfield after Antonio Valencia replaced Anderson seconds earlier with Ji-sung Park needing to move to a central position.
"I didn't think we started playing until we lost a goal to be honest," Sir Alex told MUTV. "It was a very low-key performance up until then.
"In fairness, I thought it was going to be a draw but they got a goal from their only shot on target so it was disappointing.
"It's difficult to say we were tired when you see the effort the players made in the last 30 minutes. It was huge. They've run themselves into the ground and tried their best in terms of effort but we never started playing until then.
"The important thing was to use our passing better and make use of the ball better because we didn't do it well enough in the first half. There were one or two near things, the goalkeeper's made a good save from Wayne [Rooney] and Nani had a shot saved.
"There were a few near things like that - Nani had a great cross and Chicharito just missed it by a fraction so I think we were the better team in that period but we didn't get the goal we wanted."
As regards the two penalty calls regarding Nemanja Vidic's possible handball and Gael Clichy's trip on Michael Owen, the manager felt the Reds didn't get the rub of the green.
"I think the first one is difficult for anybody to see," he asserted. "That mere flick of the ball, a touch, you don't expect the linesman or referee to see that.
"[Owen's was a ] clear penalty kick as far as I'm concerned. He's definitely brought down but we're not going to get decisions in big games I'm afraid.
"I think we were unlucky bearing in mind I don't think Edwin van der Sar made a save. Arsenal play lovely, nice football but never looked like scoring to be honest. When we made a substitution, taking Anderson off, Ji didn't adjust to it immediately and still went to the left-hand side which freed to Ramsey to score.
"It was the only weakness in our play - giving that goal away."
"I think we were unlucky bearing in mind I don't think Edwin van der Sar made a save. Arsenal play lovely, nice football but never looked like scoring to be honest."
- Sir Alex Ferguson
Credit: Manchester United (www.manutd.com)
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