Mikael Silvestre admits he's at a loss to explain Arsenal's shock collapse at Wigan Athletic.

Veteran defender Silvestre - who won four domestic championships and also lifted the European Cup while at Manchester United - agrees the way Arsenal capitulated from such a dominant position is unacceptable, yet maintains the team can produce the "best possible response" by beating City at Emirates Stadium this weekend.

"We knew that three points was the only result to get back into the [title] race, and 20 minutes from the end, we thought we were going to get that result," Silvestre told Arsenal TV Online.

"Even with the players we were missing, we had enough quality and experience to get the three points.

"We will analyse what happened, but energy-wise we can give a lot more in the last 20 minutes. Instead of a response, we just let them do it.

"I do not understand why we did not control the game in a better way. Normally we can play our football and develop attacks, but after we went 2-0 up, we stopped playing and working hard.

"You cannot rest on what you have been doing in the past - every time you have to prove yourself and that you are the best team."

The 32-year-old added: "We have to respect the club and the fans who travelled to Wigan and show them we can respond in the best way possible - which is a win against Manchester City.

"We need to get back to winning ways, back to happy days, but it won't come performing like that. We have to work harder."