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Arsene Wenger concerned for top-four chances after Sunderland draw

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Arsene Wenger says it was disappointing Arsenal did not take their chances following their 0-0 draw with Sunderland

Arsene Wenger is worried about Arsenal's quest for a 20th successive Champions League campaign after seeing his side fail to win at struggling Sunderland.

The Gunners remained in fourth place in the Premier League, level on points with Manchester City in third and five ahead of Manchester United in fifth, although Louis van Gaal's side have a game in hand.

Asked if he was anxious about clinching a top-four finish, Wenger replied: "Yes, of course. We care about that and we worry about it as well because it's a fight.

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits he is worried about missing out finishing in the top four after their goalless draw against Sunderland.

"There are two leagues at the moment: the teams who are taking it a little bit easier - you see some games and you think you would like to play them now, the teams who are safe and are not going for Europe, and then you have the teams who are going for something at the front and the teams who are fighting not to go down, and they are different games.

"It is frustrating because we play to win the title and the fact that we do not win it is of course frustrating, like it is for many other teams."

Arsenal dominated large parts of the game, but couldn't break down a resilient Sunderland side who are fighting for survival.

"I thought we played well in the first half, played with good domination and created some chances, but unfortunately we didn't take them and in this kind of game you have to [get] in front," Wenger told Sky Sports.

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Arsene Wenger
Image: Wenger looks on during the game at the Stadium of Light

"They defended well in fairness and overall it was a very tight game in the second half. I believe we had enough chances to win the game but not enough to score today.

"It's not a result we want, we wanted to win the game but we have to deal with that and focus on the next one, that's all we can do.

"We have to be more clinical with what we create, the final ball maybe wasn't quick enough at times and our finishing was not the best today."

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Wenger also offered his support to striker Olivier Giroud, who is now without a Premier League goal in 14 games after another frustrating afternoon at the Stadium of Light.

"In the second half he got stronger, but the team go less forward to him," said Wenger. "At the moment we have to support him, strikers live on confidence and the confidence we show in him as well."

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Both sides had penalty shouts late on in the first half for apparent handballs, but Wenger dismissed the notion that either team should have been awarded a spot-kick.

He said: "For me none of them were penalties, because it was not deliberate handball. The guy was close to the guy taking the shot and I'm against these kind of penalties."

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