Arsenal must toughen up, admits Wenger

Arsene Wenger admits Arsenal's bid for a top-four finish in the Premier League is in danger of ending in disaster unless his players toughen up.

Wenger's side is seven points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham after slumping to a 2-1 defeat at London rival Chelsea on Sunday and its hopes of qualifying for the Champions League are looking increasingly bleak.

A week after waving the white flag all too quickly in a 2-0 loss against Manchester City, Arsenal once again paid the price for making a nervous start.

The lackluster Gunners were two goals behind within 16 minutes at Stamford Bridge as Juan Mata's cool strike and a Frank Lampard penalty raised the temperature on a freezing afternoon in snowy west London.

Theo Walcott sparked a spirited second-half fightback when he reduced the deficit in the 58th minute, but Arsenal couldn't turn its possession into an equalizer, leaving Wenger to bemoan his stars' lack of killer instinct.

Wenger also complained Chelsea's opener should have been ruled out for a foul by Ramires on Francis Coquelin in the build-up and then claimed Wojciech Szczesny's challenge on Ramires wasn't worthy of a penalty.

But it was significant that he was willing to turn his fire on his own players rather than soley blame referee Martin Atkinson.

"We started the same as against Man City, we didn't go for it and didn't defend well," Wenger said.

"When you start 2-0 down in the big games it is very difficult. Chelsea played well but we gave them too much room and didn't defend tight enough.

"We had a physical problem to get going. There is a psychological ingredient in there for sure as well because in the last two games we didn't really go for it.

"On top of that, we were a bit unlucky because I felt it was a free kick for the first goal and the second wasn't a penalty. The referee could have given a yellow card to Ramires (for diving)."

(China Daily 01/22/2013 page22)