Arsene Wenger rues lack of defensive focus
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said he is worried by his team's lack of defensive concentration following their defeat to Tottenham (3-2) on Saturday 20 November.
Arsenal earned a two-goal lead in the first half of the game with goals from Samir Nasri and Marouane Chamakh, putting the dominant home team ahead in what looked to be a certain victory.
But Harry Redknapp's team fought back in the second half to win their first match at the Emirates Stadium, courtesy of quick counter-attacks and superior set-piece plays.
"We can switch off at the back," Wenger told the Arsenal's official website after his team squandered the opportunity to move top of the Premier League table.
The Frenchman was particularly disappointed with his team's defensive lapse at Tottenham's third goal, headed home by Younes Kaboul following an 85th-minute free kick.
"We are not there. With five minutes to go, you make sure you win your headers when you play at the back and we were caught, unfortunately.
"We were 2-0 up and it was all in our hands. It’s a strange coincidence of facts that are very difficult to explain, even when you are in the job as long as I am. But to completely lose the focus as much as we did and especially the second goal and third
goal, are very difficult."
Wenger, who was spotted throwing a water bottle at the ground in disbelief after Kaboul's goal, said his team will have to regain their defensive concentration to stand a chance of challenging for the title this season.
"We wanted to keep the urgency and our defensive tightness alive [after the half-time break], but straight away when we came out [we conceded a goal]. It’s not the first time that has happened and it is one of our weaknesses.
"Many times we come out and drop a little bit the urgency when we are ahead. We did not come out and be dominating."
Arsenal play their next league game away to Aston Villa on Saturday 27 November, four days after traveling to play SC Braga in the Champions League.
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