Charlton 0 Arsenal 1

CHARLTON manager Alan Curbishley accused Kent referee Steve Bennett of being officious following his dismissal of midfielder Danny Murphy late in the Boxing Day home defeat by Arsenal.

Murphy received his marching orders from the Orpington official in the 72nd minute for a second caution having thrown the ball down in frustration after team-mate Hermann Hreidarsson had been penalised for a challenge on Arsenal midfielder Gilberto.

Curbishley, who had been incensed when a wild tackle by Arsenal’s Cesce Fabregas on debut-making Gonzalo Sorondo had gone unpunished, said: “I thought the referee was officious and maybe he thought the game was about him today.

"When you’re on a yellow card, as Danny was, you cannot afford to bounce the ball up and down in front of the referee. But is that worse than Frabregas’s tackle on Sorondo ?

“That’s what irritates managers and players. But I’m not hiding behind that incident because Arsenal created more chances and deserved their win.”

Jose Antonio Reyes inflicted Charlton’s seventh defeat in eight Premier League games with the game’s only goal in the 58th minute.