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'Three-day gap between games is enough'

Arsène Wenger says his team will be well prepared for Saturday's trip to Sunderland, despite the fixture coming three days after Wednesday's win against Anderlecht.

This weekend's fixture at the Stadium of Light kicks off 65 hours after the final whistle was blown in Belgium in midweek.

Arsenal have lost only two of the last eight league away matches that have followed trips in Europe, but the boss is expecting a tough task on Wearside.

"I think until now we have been relatively consistent in our attitude and in our performances, but not efficient enough"

"It is not ideal [to play away from home again] but it happens to the other clubs as well," the boss said. "There is no statistical proof at all that you make less points with only three days difference. [On the] contrary, on the European front it is the opposite.

"[Sunderland] are a team who is relatively consistent and who had a great finish last year. When you go to Sunderland, you know to always expect commitment and fight for 90 minutes and we have to prepare ourselves for that.

"The result from last week will certainly have dropped their confidence and increased their resolve to defend well, so it is up to us to just focus on our performance.

 

Lukas Podolski against Anderlecht

 

"I think until now we have been relatively consistent in our attitude and in our performances, but not efficient enough. Not defensively nor offensively.

"That is why if you look since the start of the season we have only lost two games, to Dortmund and Chelsea, but we didn’t make enough points with our performances."

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