Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes making eight changes to the squad which eased past Chelsea was not the reason why they failed to get all three points against Wigan.

Speaking after the 2-2 draw at the DW Stadium, the Frenchman was bitterly disappointed for throwing away two points against ten-men Wigan as he added how it was a difficult game played at a rapid pace against determined opposition. The Arsenal boss added how his team started slowly and were punished and how they didn’t do enough in the second half.

Asked why he opted to make so many changes, Wenger explained how rotation is a must when you play so many games in such a short period of time adding how this is not the reason why points were dropped.

The Gunners will be back in action on the first day of the year against Birmingham City away from home on a day which sees leaders Manchester United face West Bromwich Albion and second-played Manchester City at home against Blackpool.

After the Wigan game, Wenger said:

We were 2-1 up and playing against ten men and we dropped two points. Overall, it was a difficult game with high levels of commitment from Wigan. They caught us a bit at the start and after that we came back into it a little bit. In the second half we didn’t do enough and we conceded two goals from two set pieces.

We had a disadvantage that Wigan played three days ago and only 48 hours ago we played a big game in the evening. I had to change it because we play on Saturday and again on Wednesday so we can’t always play with the same team. But I don’t think that was a problem at all.