Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is struggling to offer up a conclusive reason why his side have failed to hit top form so far this season, but he accepts worrying defensive frailties remain their biggest ongoing concern.
The Gunners have won just two of their first eight Premier League games this season and are already an alarming 11 points behind pace setting Chelsea, with the 11 goals conceded in those games culminating with another disappointing defensive display against Hull on Saturday.
While Danny Welbeck's late equaliser salvaged a point for Arsenal in a 2-2 draw at Emirates Stadium, there were jeers from some Gunners supporters at the final whistle and Wenger was left scrambling to find excuses for his side's efforts.
"It's difficult to say why we have not performed at our best because there's not just one reason," Wenger told reporters. "It's a post-World Cup year. It's as well because we had to play Besiktas to qualify for the Champions League without having everybody ready. We have missed many players. All of these factors.
"What is most frustrating is that we never come out of games feeling that we have been dominated. We always feel there was room to win the game and that was not always the case last season but our defensive efficiency is not there at the moment.
"You cannot survive at the top level by conceding always two goals. It's impossible. It's an urgency not to give easy goals away like we did.
"We have to focus on the next game, football is made of pragmatism and realism and let's focus on Anderlecht and go on and win the game.
"It's a shame we didn't win against Hull, but it's a shame because there is a good spirit in the side and a lot of quality in there and I think the way we concede goals at the moment is too easy."
Wenger's selection problems will continue in Wednesday's Champions League game against Anderlecht in Belgium, with first choice keeper Wojciech Szczesny suspended and his understudy David Ospina not available due to injury.
That means rookie keeper Emiliano Martinez will be thrown into the first team firing line, but fears over the fitness of Jack Wilshere have been allayed after he picked up a knock on his knee in the Hull game.
Theo Walcott is still not ready for a first team return after making his comeback in an under-21 game last week following a lengthy lay-off with a knee ligament injury, but midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Mikel Arteta are expected to be fit enough to start against Anderlecht as they edge back to full fitness.
