Arsene Wenger
Wenger urges players to be more efficient Getty Images/Paul Gilham

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has urged his team to be more efficient and admits that a win is a must when the Gunners face Sunderland on Saturday.

Arsenal have had a poor start to the season and see themselves in the seventh position with just 11 points from eight games. They have won only two of the games.

The Frenchman believes the Gunners have the necessary quality and attitude, but admits that the team are not playing to their full potential. He feels the addition of new players and the World Cup fatigue could be behind the slow start.

"I think 95 per cent is there. It is normal that after a World Cup, and we have new players, you see the main thing is there – the attitude, the quality," the Mirror quoted Wenger as saying.

"But the water boils at 100 degrees and not at 99, and we have to add that degree."

Wenger wants his team to "dominate" games and be more efficient with possession.

"It is frustrating, but we have to play better. That is how we have to think. We dominate our games.

"It is just when we have a weaker moment we pay for it. That is why I think we have to produce more effort defensively as a team."

"We could be more efficient offensively and defensively, but that will come. I can understand that better because there are players who are new."

The north London club have failed to keep a clean sheet in all but one of their league games, and Wenger feels this makes it harder for the attackers, as the team cannot hold on to their lead for long periods of time.

"I think, as well, we are never in positions where we have the lead for a long time, we are always chasing back. Of course that makes it more difficult offensively," the 64 year-old manager explained.

"We have to win at Sunderland. I cannot deny that. I believe it is linked with confidence at the moment, but I cannot fault the attitude," Wenger concluded.