Arsène Wenger insists his players will have to up their work rate in order to restore confidence for the final stretch of the season.

The boss spoke to Arsenal Player after Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to West Brom, and acknowledged that the team need to use the international break to refocus on the challenges ahead, starting with a home game against Manchester City on April 2.

"You find confidence back by working hard,” he said. "That makes you stronger. Now, on top of that, the players go away so it will not be easy.

"They come back late and we have a big game at home, so hopefully we can prepare well and have no more injuries during the international break because we face Man City at home and it will be a very big game for us.

“It’s sad that we have lost this game because it would’ve been good [for the international players] to leave on a positive note.”

Wenger also outlined why he felt we failed to capitalise on the 77 per cent possession we enjoyed at The Hawthorns.

"Our passing was a bit too slow, they defended well and the pitch was not fast as well. All that together didn’t help."