Arsene Wenger accepts everything about Arsenal's performance
against Birmingham was "bad" - but maintains it will have served as
a "good lesson" in the Gunners' battle for the Barclays Premier
League title.
Arsenal looked to be on course for an 11th home win when Emmanuel
Adebayor scored from the spot after Stephen Kelly was penalised for
a tackle from behind on Eduardo.
However, the Gunners failed to capitalise on their advantage and
simply switched off at the start of the second half as Garry
O'Connor was allowed to head in from a corner, albeit via a
deflection off Cesc Fabregas.
Despite plenty of pressure during the closing stages, there was a
distinct lack of a cutting edge to Arsenal's usual flowing football
as promising moves came to nothing.
And the resounding 6-0 victory for title rivals Manchester United
over Newcastle in Saturday's late kick-off saw the Gunners slip
back into second place.
Wenger admits it was a bad day at the office for his team -
although they were without Ivory Coast duo Kolo Toure and Emmanuel
Eboue, away at the African Nations Cup, as well as Robin van Persie
and Tomas Rosicky, both suffering from a virus.
"We were caught in the feeling, during the game, that it would be
easy and that is a good lesson for us," said the Arsenal
manager.
"We lost a ball we shouldn't have lost and from the corner we
weren't sharp enough. Then, after that, we lacked quality in the
final third and that was a collective problem."
Wenger declared: "I take full responsibility. The crowd were good,
we were bad and I include myself in that.
"That was the poorest game we have played.
"You can never afford to be poor because that's not your
ambition.
"We tried, but we lacked creativity, incisiveness and sharpness. It
can happen.
"I feel that it is easy to find a rational explanation for days
like this - but it is not always the right ones.
"It is one of the mysteries of football that some players haven't
played for 10 days and yet they weren't sharp."
Wenger added: "In 22 games this season we have played well in 21 of
them. Now we want to come back to what we really are."
Full-back Gael Clichy accepts the team lost focus, and were made to
pay a heavy price.
He said: "The boss told us from half-time to be ready from the
first minute of the second half. We did not listen to him and now
we have dropped two points."
The Frenchman, though, insisted the Gunners still have the
character to mount a sustained title challenge over the second half
of the season.
"I do not think the mentality is gone," he said. "We know we have
the quality to win it.
"We are still there for the title and we are going to show that
against Fulham in the next match.
"Let's get on with the job. We have to refocus everyone and move
forwards."
Despite his squad now looking somewhat thin, particularly in the
centre of defence, Wenger insists he has no intentions of dipping
into the transfer market this month.
Although veteran goalkeeper Jens Lehmann - on the bench against
Birmingham - elected against a move to Borussia Dortmund, the
future of unsettled midfielder Lassana Diarra remains
unclear.
One of the reasons for a perceived lack of first-team opportunities
in his preferred position this season has been the form of
compatriot Mathieu Flamini.
The Frenchman is out of contract at the end of the season, and so
is now free to open negotiations with other clubs should he
wish.
Arsenal, though, are continuing their own dialogue with the
highly-rated 23--year-old, who nearly left the club during the
summer.
Wenger said: "I am hopeful on it. I am not concerned.
"Mathieu is free to talk, but the talks [with Arsenal] are
ongoing."
