Arsenal Boss Arsene Wenger Rues Lack Of Preparation After Loss To Sunderland

"I feel that some players struggled really to prepare properly, mentally for a game like that because you know after an international break it's how well and how quickly the team can focus again."

Although the international break surely took its toll, Wenger believes his team must find the focus week-in and week-out if they want to have a shot at the Premier League crown.

"The international break doesn't help but it's down to us, as a team, to focus quickly again and to show that quality," he added.

"(To win the) championship (you need) to be capable, every time, to turn up as close as possible to your best in a consistent way.

"When you cannot do that, you can lose games like that."

Arsenal's defeat leaves them eight points behind table-toppers Chelsea and Wenger admits that the result comes as a major blow to their title ambitions.

He said: "It is a big setback because you do not prepare yourself to drop points in a situation like that.

"It's not especially worrying, it's frustrating, because I know we have the quality but it is frustrating when you see some performances today - that is very frustrating."

Will Ashwell, Goal.com UK