Sunday 8 November 2015 12:17, UK
Arsene Wenger has insisted Arsenal are not feeling the pressure of being in the Premier League title race.
Arsenal go into Sunday's north London derby against Tottenham second in the table, level on 25 points with leaders Manchester City after 11 games, having won all of their past five league matches.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Wenger said: "It's too early for pressure. I like that kind of pressure, but only 11 games have been played. If there were just five or six to play, then there would be pressure. But I believe we can challenge [for the title].
"You want to be up there at the top and we are at the moment. After the first game against West Ham [a 2-0 home defeat], it is absolutely remarkable what we have done and we want to stay there.
"I believe it is an advantage to be top because it strengthens your belief that you can go all the way. It's too early to talk about the title. I want to be in the fight. [At] Christmas you start to see, but it's now down to consistency and you must go into every game with top-level focus."
After the first game against West Ham, it is absolutely remarkable what we have done and we want to stay there.
Tottenham travel to the Emirates Stadium in fifth place in the Premier League, five points behind Arsenal. Wenger praised their form this season, and that of Harry Kane in particular.
He added: "Every year Tottenham are a threat. In the last 20 years, they've always had strong teams. There have been periods when we have been eight or nine points behind them in April.
"They have done well. They have lost only one game. They have had a few draws. They are a side that are strong defensively and can play at a high pace in a committed way. They are very stable.
"Harry Kane played here, I've heard, when he was a kid. I think he is a very interesting and strong striker. He has top qualities and I think he will have a good career."
Arsenal go into the derby on the back of a 5-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday. Wenger, however, is adamant that confidence has not been affected.
He said: "It was a disappointing result on Wednesday night, but before that we did extremely well in the Premier League, so we will try to continue from one competition from the other.
"I believe that in the Premier League we have a strong confidence and focus and that is what we want to reproduce on Sunday against Tottenham."
Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech will make his debut in the north London derby on Sunday. The Czech international is now 33 years old, but Wenger believes he could play on until 40.
He added: "He is gifted, super-talented and is one of the greatest goalkeepers ever seen in this country. He plays in a position where age is less of a restriction than in any other job. I think 37 or 38.
"Some go longer, but once you start to have a four in the number, the intensity is more difficult. [Edwin] van der Sar was close to 40 and still doing well."
