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Wenger says Arsenal have right stuff for title tilt

The Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, praised his side's resilience as they came from behind at the Emirates on Saturday to beat Stoke City 3-1 and go top of the Premier League.

Arsene Wenger has not steered Arsenal to the Premier League title since 2004.
Arsene Wenger has not steered Arsenal to the Premier League title since 2004. Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne
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Theo Walcott's strike late in the first-half cancelled out Charlie Adam's opener for the visitors before goals from Mesut Ozil and Alex Iwobi secured the points for the north Londoners. It was Arsenal's third successive win following two draws against Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

Apart from the unbeaten run, it was the manner in which Arsenal held their nerve to secure the victory that impressed the manager.

"We finished second in the league last year but I believe we have improved," he said. "I believe that we have created confidence and 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."

Chelsea will reclaim pole position if they draw or beat West Bromwich Albion on Sunday afternoon at Stamford Bridge.

Wenger's men were the last side to take any points off Antonio Conte's charges. Following the 3-0 drubbing at the Emirates on 24 September, Conte switched his formation and Chelsea have won eight consecutive games including triumphs over Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City to go top.

"At the minute there is no difference anyway with the other teams," said Wenger. "But we are in there at the top. No matter what the results will be. So that's good. We are in the fight.

"When you analyse last year ... at home we did very well against the top five and we dropped points against teams in mid-table.

"That is our challenge this year, to continue to do well against the top teams but also to do well in the games against the likes of Stoke - where you have to win. Agaist such we dropped some points last year."

Stoke manager Mark Hughes said his players had shown a positive attitude in the defeat.

"Arsenal are an exceptional side and a lot of teams have suffered at the hands of them," he said. "I thought we gave a good account of ourselves. We will take the positives out of the performance not the result.

"We have two big away games coming up against Chelsea and against Liverpool so we will take the positives from here and also the elements we need to work on."

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