Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has challenged his side to maintain their current form as they look to launch a genuine title challenge this season.
The Gunners made it 14 Premier League games without defeat courtesy of a come-from-behind victory over Stoke City at the Emirates Stadium this afternoon, climbing to the top of the Premier League table in the process.
Chelsea could regain their place at the summit when they take on West Bromwich Albion tomorrow, but Wenger is confident that his side have improved from last term, when they finished second.
When asked about going top, Wenger told reporters: "It's good. But let's wait until tomorrow. At the minute there is no difference anyway with the other teams, there is Chelsea vs. West Brom tomorrow. But we are in there. No matter what the results will be. So that's good - we are in the fight.
"We were not too bad last year. We finish second in the league. I believe we have improved, yes. But we have to show that on a longer term. I believe that we have created confidence, I think we are ambitious - but what is at stake is to keep urgency levels very high, humility levels very high and togetherness very high. We have to show that in every single game now. Then we will see where we stand.
"When you analyse last season at home, we did very well against the top five and we dropped points between fifth and 12th at home, teams in mid-table. Certainly that is our challenge this year, to continue to do well against the top teams but as well in these kind of games, like Stoke today, where you have to win and we dropped some points last year."
Arsenal have not won the Premier League title since the 'Invincibles' season of 2003-04.
Barney Corkhill
