Arsenal's Arsene Wenger: 'I prefer to play during festive period'

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said that he does not want a winter break in England.

The Premier League is the only major domestic league in Europe that continues over the Christmas and New Year period.

"I would prefer to play [during the festive period]," he told reporters. "When the team is on a roll, you want them to go out and play.

Physically, it was a difficult game (against Wigan Athletic on Saturday) for us. Maybe we need a little breather because we played two hours at Bradford and then at Reading, and today [was another] physical game on a very heavy pitch."

Arsenal won 1-0 at Wigan on Saturday and are now third in the league table.