Wenger feels the frustration

Manager Arsene Wenger has been left perplexed by Arsenal’s stuttering start to the season – and warned there must be more “defensive efficiency” if his side are to come back into the Barclays Premier League title race.

Wenger feels the frustration

Manager Arsene Wenger has been left perplexed by Arsenal’s stuttering start to the season – and warned there must be more “defensive efficiency” if his side are to come back into the Barclays Premier League title race.

The Gunners needed a stoppage-time equaliser from England forward Danny Welbeck to snatch a 2-2 draw against Hull at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

It had all looked so different when, having dominated the early exchanges, Alexis Sanchez swept Arsenal in front on 13 minutes.

However, Wenger’s men were undone by first a powering run and neat finish from Mohamed Diame, who looked to have shoved past Mathieu Flamini in the build-up, before Abel Hernandez got above Per Mertesacker to headed in a second goal for the visitors early in the second half.

Wenger took some encouragement from the way Arsenal continued to battle right through six minutes of stoppage-time – when some last-ditch defending and a couple of saves from stand-in Hull goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic thwarted the search for a dramatic winner.

However, the Arsenal boss knows the overall performance left more questions as they fell further behind leaders Chelsea.

“It is difficult to say why (it has been an inconsistent start) because it is not only one reason,” said Wenger, who showed his frustrations in a post-match TV interview when pressed on his team’s defensive shortcomings.

“It is a post-World Cup year, the fact that we had to play Besiktas to qualify for the Champions League, and the fact that we missed many players.

“What is most frustrating is that we never come out of a game feeling that we (have) dominated – we always feel that there is room to win the game, that was not always the case last season.

“Our defensive efficiency is not there at the moment. We cannot survive at the top level by always conceding two goals.

“It is a bit linked with confidence and concentration, so we have to adjust that.”

Wenger also appeared to question his team’s approach against what was a well-organised and physical opposition.

The Arsenal boss added: “You have to respect Hull’s experience in the air. We cannot compete, that is for sure, so we have always have to score the super goal.

“I don’t know how many corners we had, but they were much taller and there weren’t many chances to score – we always need the perfect combination.”

Arsenal may have only lost one Barclays Premier League game this season, at Chelsea before the international break, but they have won only twice and drawn five, falling some 11 points off the top.

“We have to win football games before we can think about (catching) Chelsea,” said Wenger.

“There is a good spirit in the side, a lot of quality in there, but the way we concede goals at the moment is too easy.

“Football is made of pragmatism and realism so let’s focus on going to Anderlecht and winning the game.”

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