Arsene Wenger blasts Raheem Sterling as a ‘diver’… just months after he tried to sign him

ARSENE WENGER branded Raheem Sterling a diver after his Arsenal side were beaten by leaders Manchester City.

The Gunners made a bid to sign the £49 million England winger just before the transfer deadline in August.

But Wenger was furious at the way he went down under a challenge from Nacho Monreal to hand City their second goal.

He was also bitterly disappointed with City's third goal - with David Silva clearly offside as he squared for Gabriel Jesus to score.

But Wenger said: "I believe it was no penalty. We know that Raheem Sterling dives well, he does that very well.

"And the third goal was offside. I am very upset because at 2-1 we were in the game."

Wenger was critical of referee Michael Oliver's performance - and could now land himself an FA charge.

He felt the two goals City got in this fixture last season should not have stood and implied they always get the decisions.

AR YOU SERIOUS? Arsenal fans are fuming with THIS player

Wenger said: *"*I would say overall the referee made the decision today, with the soft penalty and the offside goal.

"But we are used to it when coming here, last year they had two offside goals, and once again.

"I feel referees don't work enough, because the level drops every season at the moment. Overall it's unacceptable what happens."

Guardiola hit back - saying Arsenal have benefitted from debatable decisions themselves - notably when they won at Burnley last season.

He said: "We won in the best way and we deserved by far. The chances we created and the few chances we conceded.

"They tell me it was offside and I don’t like to win in that way, so it’s like this, but *sometimes Arsenal win in Burnley 0-1 with a hand*.

"So sometimes it is like this. The way we like to play, we did it really well."