Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits their big weakness this season was defending long balls.

At the shareholders Q&A this week, the Frenchman said: "I must say this year we had among the best attack but [with one game to go] we have conceded 31 goals which is six or seven too many.

"It's as close as that to win the championship.

"We didn't give more goals away than any other team in the League on open play, nor on set pieces, but where we gave more goals away was on direct balls, in the air, through the middle, and most of the time on second balls.

"On set pieces and open play we were as good as Manchester United and Chelsea. The numbers are available. But we have to rectify how we deal with direct balls. When a team just goes for long, direct balls against us, we have to improve."