Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that it took a while for his side to perform without former forward Robin van Persie.

Van Persie left for Manchester United in the summer, while Arsenal began the season in indifferent fashion, falling to 10th position in the table.

However, the Gunners have enjoyed an improved second half to the season, and Wenger believes that his players have now forgotten their former teammate.

The Frenchman told reporters: "This team suffered for a very long time from a lack of confidence because you take the talisman away - Robin van Persie - and get the new players in, then you lose the first big games and suddenly we are faced with scepticism around the team. You could see that.

"That was the problem and balancing the team took a while, to find a formula to have a good balance in the team. Since this has been back, we have been very efficient.

"The Bayern Munich away game was very important, you could feel after that we could do it, that helped. I never felt this team lacked focus or desire to do well, but we lacked confidence for a while."

Arsenal will qualify for next season's Champions League if they can defeat Newcastle United on Sunday.