Midfielder Nigel de Jong does not understand why Manchester City's form has hit the buffers but he has called on the players to sort out their problems.

The pressure is starting to mount on manager Mark Hughes after a record-breaking seventh successive draw in the Barclays Premier League, at home to Hull on Saturday.

City are currently seventh in the table, with a match in hand on five of the six teams ahead of them, and victory over an expected inexperienced Arsenal team in the Carling Cup on Wednesday would put them into their first major semi-final for 28 years.

"We have to sort it out," said the former Ajax and Hamburg man.

"We are frustrated at the way we played (against Hull), and the way we have played in the last couple of weeks at home.

"We have to dominate teams here, and that didn't happen. It was the seventh draw, so we don't get any closer to the top four.

"I would love to give you a reason (why City are drawing so many games) - if I could give you the reason, we would win all of our games.

"Maybe there is a lack of confidence in some situations. We try to keep our confidence high, especially when we play at home."

City have no time to dwell on their disappointing run of draws with Arsenal visiting in midweek.

De Jong feels it is the perfect opportunity to get rid of all their frustration.

"It is up to us to take it on the chin and come out fighting on Wednesday," he told the Manchester Evening News.

"We need to pick ourselves up and look forward to the game against Arsenal.

"It's a team thing and we have to work harder and harder to get where we want to be.

"We are frustrated but have to continue to build for the future."