Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has issued an apology for Santi Cazorla being awarded a penalty against West Brom, suggesting the Spaniard may come in for disciplinary action for going to ground too easily.

GettyImagesSteven Reid accuses Santi Cazorla of diving to win a penalty for Arsenal's opener against West Brom

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Cazorla helped Arsenal take the lead when he fell in the box following a challenge by Steven Reid, with replays showing there was no contact. Mikel Arteta converted the resulting penalty.

"I am sorry if it was not a penalty, but I have spoken to Santi and he said he was touched, lost his balance. Has he made a bit more of it? I don't know," Wenger said. "When he [a player] is touched, he goes down, the referee can give or not give the penalty."

Asked if he would speak to Cazorla if he felt there had not been contact, he added: "Of course. I will look at it, don't worry."

Arteta, who scored twice from the penalty spot during the victory, defended his team-mate and compatriot after the match, insisting that simulation is not normally part of Cazorla's character.

"Santi is not a player who dives," he said. "He has taken a lot this year because of the way he plays. If he has done it [is] because he felt something and changed direction. But he is not that sort of player."

Information from the Press Association was used in this report.