Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger slated the state of the Wembley pitch after their FA Cup semifinal defeat to Chelsea.

The FA have had problems with the pitch since the new stadium opened just over two years ago.

Yet today was only the fifth time the present rye grass pitch has been used and it is not due to be taken up again until the summer, before which it will host the three Football League play-offs, the FA Cup final and England's World Cup qualifier with Andorra.

Watching Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson would hardly have been impressed either given the Red Devils must face Everton on it on Sunday.

"It is not a pitch for a stadium like that," declared Wenger.

"You spend all that money on the stadium and still have no pitch.

"It is laughable. The quality of the pitch is a disaster."

Wenger claimed it was equally disruptive for Chelsea, although the Blues manager Guus Hiddink did not feel there was a problem.

"It was OK," said the Dutchman.

"If you go to a lot of places in Europe and Africa you get pitches that are a lot worse than that.

"I don't think you should start talking about the pitch, whether you win or lose. It was fine to play on."