Arsene Wenger has suggested that Arsenal's Premier League title bid hinges on whether they remain in the mix by the time Christmas comes around.
The Gunners sit level on points with leaders Manchester City in what has proven an encouraging start to the league campaign, winning eight of their first 11 games.
Nevertheless, Wenger, who last lifted the title in 2004, is aware that the wheels could come loose at any moment, refusing to discuss Arsenal's potential until they emerge unscathed from the festive period.
"At Christmas I will tell you that," he told a press conference when asked about his side's title chances. "We have to be in the fight at Christmas. The desire is there. We need to show it in all our games.
"What is good, positive for us, is if you look at our fixtures until now we have played all the big teams and the teams fighting at the top, apart from Man City. We have played Chelsea, Liverpool, West Ham, Leicester, Man United."
Wenger's men welcome bitter North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur to the Emirates on Sunday.
They host City on December 21, before facing Southampton away on Boxing Day.
Shane Callaghan
