Arsenal's Arsene Wenger admits Sutton United were a much better team than he was expecting.

The Gunners managed to get past the National League side 2-0 in the fifth round of the FA Cup tonight but not without some nervy moments at Gander Green Lane.

Sutton created some clear-cut scoring opportunities and were fully focused and determined for the entire 90 minutes on what was a tricky night for Arsenal.

"It's different to get in here, it's so crowded," Wenger told BBC 1.

"It was very different, I must say, on this kind of pitch. It was not an easy game at all. We have to give them credit. If every little technical movement is not 100% you lose the ball, so they played very well."

Asked if he felt Sutton were better than he expected, Wenger replied: "Honestly, yes.

"Of course because it is basically division five and when I arrived here 20 years ago, in division five they were not as fit..

"They didn't drop physically at all. You would expect them to, but they remained focused and organised and had huge desire in their game.

"If we were not mentally prepared we would not have gone through today."

Next up for Arsenal is another non-league opponent in Lincoln City at the Emirates Stadium on the weekend of March 11.