The Gunners travel to Stamford Bridge tomorrow lunchtime looking to bounce back from a 2-1 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Building work at Zagreb airport meant it closed at 11pm on Wednesday, forcing Wenger and his players to take an hour 45 minute coach journey to Maribor, in neighbouring Slovenia, to fly home.
They arrived back in London at 4am yesterday before returning to training at 12.30pm to prepare for the showdown with Chelsea.
Jose Mourinho's side by contrast recorded an easy 4-0 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv at home.
But Wenger insists his side will be able to perform at their best as they look to put more pressure on the Blues after their poor start domestically.
"I don't use that [late return] as an excuse," Wenger said.
"I knew before the game in Zagreb that time would be short and I took decisions a little bit linked with that.
"We are in a position where we can perform tomorrow."
