Sunday 6 December 2015 12:19, UK
Arsene Wenger admitted his Arsenal side struggled for fluency on their way to a 3-1 win over impressive Sunderland.
Injuries to first-choice central midfielders Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin meant a new pairing of Aaron Ramsey and Mathieu Flamini, while Alexis Sanchez was also missing.
And Wenger acknowledged there was an initial lack of rhythm as Sunderland had the better of a first half which finished with the score at 1-1.
Sam Allardyce's visitors missed further chances after the break, but goals from Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey gave Arsenal the points and a first win in four in the league.
"We were a bit edgy and nervous in the first half," Wenger told Sky Sports after the game.
"We played against a Sunderland side that was very well organised, had a great team spirit and was always very dangerous on breaks, and you have to say this team will take points against many teams.
"Overall I'm happy we got three three points, and in the second half we were more fluent, more incisive, more penetrating with our passes. It was much better, but they remained always a threat.
"We have to find a new balance, and that doesn't come immediately - you could see that in our fluency and continuity of passing. Mesut Ozil came a bit deeper, then we have less players at the front, so we have to find new adjustments."
Arsenal are back in second, two points behind Leicester, and Wenger said: "It's very tight. What you see now is that anybody can beat anybody, so consistency will be rewarded."
Wenger now takes his side to Olympiakos for Wednesday's Champions league eliminator, and both Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott continued their comebacks from injury with time on the pitch against Sunderland.
"Yes, that's positive," Wenger said. "We had enough negatives in the last two weeks."
