Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has dismissed accusations that his side bowed to pressure in their 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Southampton on Boxing Day.
Following leaders Leicester City's earlier slip-up at Liverpool, the Gunners could have gone one point clear at the top had they overcome Ronald Koeman's out-of-sorts Saints at St Mary's.
Speaking after the match, Wenger insisted that his side had not been focused on usurping the Foxes at the summit.
"I said before the game, whether we are one point behind or one point in front it is not too important," he told reporters. "It is the quality of our performance that counts and we were not good enough to win the game [against Southampton]. We have just to look at that.
"On the other side, we can't dwell too much because in 48 hours we play again. We are disappointed and frustrated, but there's only one way to respond in 48 hours."
Arsenal welcome Premier League newcomers Bournemouth to the Emirates in an evening kickoff on Monday, and Wenger is confident that his charges will bounce back.
"These players have fantastic spirit and they can show that in 48 hours," the Frenchman added.
"We are in a job where we have to respond. We want to respond from disappointments. Unfortunately, there's no possible career without disappointment. Nobody, not even the best players in the world, can have that. It's down to how you respond and I trust my players to respond in a very strong way on Monday."
Arsenal have another chance to go top on Monday, with Leicester welcoming fellow title contenders Manchester City to the King Power a day later.
Neil Wilkes
