Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: We can’t speak about title hopes until our form improves

Arsene Wenger insist Arsenal must forget about the title and focus on regaining their form after they were held to a goalless draw against Blackburn.

The Gunners title hopes took a huge dent at the Emirates after Steve Kean’s side battled to a well-deserved draw to leave the Gunners trailing Manchester United by seven points at the top of the Premier League.

The Frenchman praised Blackburn for their gritty display but blasted his side’s lacklustre offensive performance.

“Half of it is down to the fact Blackburn defended well but i feel it was more down to our poor offensive performance today,” said Wenger.

“We have to focus on our performance, not on Manchester United today.

“Before we speak about the title we have to come back to a better level of performance and then we can speak about that but we have to raise our level.”

Wenger did not write his side’s title chances off but he did admit to his concerns about the display at the Emirates against relegation candidates Blackburn.

“I fear nothing but I am concerned about our performance today. The performance we produced to day is not good enough and that is the first concern,” he said.

“Our performance today was just flat so we have to come back to a better level of performance.”

Wenger admitted his side lacked the tempo required to cause Blackburn problems and has cursed his team’s inability to convert chances before the interval.

“It was a more frustrating performance because we didn’t have the pace in our game,” he said.

“Overall it was a flat performance with a lack of energy level and a lack of sharpness. it was quite a big concern to see what we saw today.

“It is difficult to identify one special thing.

“I thought we started ok and after our game became flat and very few players looked to have the resources to put the pace up in the game.

“We had golden opportunities in the first-half and the second half but when you don’t take them it’s not a coincidence.”

Arsenal were boosted by the return of several first-team stars but influential midfielder Cesc Fabregas was only fit enough to be named as a substitute.

Wenger admitted his reluctance in leaving Fabregas on the bench, and the Frenchman now believes his captain must be in the correct psychological state to complete an entire match.

“It was a difficult decision but you could see that there is still some concern,” conceded Wenger.

“I believe he is over his injury. He got a set back at the Nou Camp but before the game he was fit and today he was fit but there is still some reluctance to be free.

“He had a few setbacks before and in his mind he didn’t know whether he could play for 90 minutes. It takes step by step to get completely back and to be free and not concerned about the injury and he was concerned by the return of the injury.”