• Premier League

Arsenal's place at top table under threat, says Wenger

Abel Hernandez rises above Per Mertesacker to score for Hull at the Emirates on Saturday © Getty Images

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted his side's defensive frailties risk seeing them fall away from the Premier League's elite clubs.

Arsenal have won just two of their first eight league fixtures this season, conceding 11 goals in the process. They are already an alarming 11 points behind pace-setting Chelsea and Wenger called on his defenders to shape up after another poor display against Hull on Saturday.

Wenger was indebted to striker Danny Welbeck, whose late equaliser salvaged a point for his side in the 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium. There were jeers from some home supporters at the final whistle and Wenger admitted Arsenal would have to improve at the back in order to silence the critics.

"You cannot survive at the top level by conceding always two goals. It's impossible. It's an urgency not to give easy goals away like we did.

"We have to focus on the next game, football is made of pragmatism and realism and let's focus on [our next opponents] Anderlecht and go on and win the game.

"It's a shame we didn't win against Hull, but it's a shame because there is a good spirit in the side and a lot of quality in there and the way we concede goals at the moment is too easy."

While he highlighted their leakiness in defence, Wenger also admitted that his side face several other problems, including the fatigue of some players from last summer's World Cup in Brazil.

"It's difficult to say why we have not performed at our best because there's not just one reason," Wenger added. "It's a post-World Cup year. It's as well because we had to play Besiktas to qualify for the Champions League without having everybody ready. We have missed many players. All of these factors.

"What is most frustrating is that we never come out of games feeling that we have been dominated. We always feel there was room to win the game and that was not always the case last season but our defensive efficiency is not there at the moment.

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