Wenger: We can't afford to lose any more ground

The London club slumped to a lacklustre 1-0 defeat at Norwich on Saturday, which left it 10 points behind early  Premier League pacesetter Chelsea and with its credentials to last the distance called into question once again.

Wenger's side has an opportunity to provide a quick response when it hosts Schalke in the Champions League, where victory over the German outfit would all but secure qualification from Group B for the knockout stages with three matches to spare.

That would perhaps go some way to calming the waters ahead of Thursday's Annual General Meeting at Emirates Stadium, where the future direction of the club which last won a trophy in 2005 will again be high on the agenda.

"I can understand that, and I share that concern. I believe we can compete," said Wenger, who concludes his European three-match touchline ban against Schalke.

"The three points we dropped at Norwich are not welcome and it came at a period where we absolutely needed to win this game, but for the rest we are in a strong position. What is very important is that we do not lose more ground.

"At the moment, I agree it (the gap) is a lot, but we have just to focus to get closer now.

"For us, it is not the number of points only, it is that the margin of error we have now in front of us which is very limited - and with a result like that we have put a huge pressure on our shoulders."

Wenger accepts he will come up against plenty of questions from disgruntled shareholders later this week.

He said: "I understand every frustration. I am not a racist against frustration.

"Who doesn't share the frustration?

"However, the most difficult at the top level is to be consistent and one day you will see that.

"We have lost many players and to combine both is not easy - we have a good team, a strong financial situation and are consistent."

Wenger added: "Of course, I would love everybody to be happy, but I think overall the club is in a very strong position.

"People also feel the players have a good attitude, so it is down to us now to make the maximum of this during the season - but there is no reason really to be doom and gloom."

Wenger rejected suggestions Arsenal would be best served to focus all its attentions on winning the Champions League, much like Chelsea did last season once out of the race for the top four.

"We are not there yet, there's a long way to go," said Wenger.

"Chelsea did it under special circumstances. For us, we want to keep as many challenges as we can open - then, if we have to make a decision on that front we will do it, but it is too early."

With first choice goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny still struggling to shake off an ankle problem, Vito Mannone is set to again deputise.

The Italian could have done better with Norwich's goal on Saturday, pushing a 25-yard shot from Alex Tettey back into the penalty area, where Grant Holt reacted quickest to score.

Wenger, though, is not about to make any knee-jerk reaction - especially given James Shea, 21, is the only other back-up given promising Argentinian Damian Martinez was not named on the Champions League roster.

"That can happen, it happened to every big keeper," said Wenger.

"The biggest quality of a keeper at the moment is experience. Vito is getting experience. To put an even less experienced player in now, I don't think would be the right thing."