I wouldn't say it is too early (to start dreaming about the title) because that's what we all want to do -- win the league. We feel week in, week out we get stronger and stronger. That's all we can do, we can take each game as it comes,"
Jack Wilshere
Arsenal midfielder
AGENCIES
LONDON
Arsenal are already dreaming of Premier League title success this season, Gunners midfielder Jack Wilshere has said.
Despite consistently finishing in the top four in recent years, Arsenal have not won the league since their unbeaten 2003-04 season. However, the 2014 and 2015 FA Cup winners are currently level on points with Manchester City at the top of the table and Wilshere, who is currently sidelined, believes they should be considered genuine contenders.
Speaking after a week in which Arsenal beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League and Everton in the Premier League, he told Sky Sports' "Goals on Sunday" show: "I wouldn't say it is too early (to start dreaming about the title) because that's what we all want to do -- win the league.
"We feel week in, week out we get stronger and stronger. That's all we can do -- we can take each game as it comes. We didn't start the Champions League well either but we got a big result in the week for that as well. We're still in that and things are going well at the moment."
The England international said Arsenal, now on a run of four consecutive league wins, might have their best chance to win the title in several years. "Yeah, I think so," the midfielder added. "In past seasons we've struggled at the start of the season and then woken up in January when we've realised we need to get into the top four and finish in the Champions League.
"But this year I think we've continued with where we finished last season, we've got players in there that want to win now, fighting for each other, it's a great team spirit, and if we can continue this then who knows? We've got to take each game as it comes but we're feeling good at the moment so everyone is confident."
Striker Olivier Giroud, who has been competing for his place with Theo Walcott this season, said the players are working hard for one another and are "stronger mentally this year." Giroud, who scored the opener after being handed a start in Saturday's 2-1 win over Everton, added in The Guardian. "We are all fighting for each other. We have a great togetherness and we want to achieve big things all together.
"We are showing a lot of leadership, we have team meetings and we all want to contribute and bring qualities to the big matches. We are all looking in the same direction and we know we need to be 100 percent in every game... If someone is a bit tired then someone else will battle and fight for each other. That's the mentality we need to show through the season. If we carry on like that then we will be difficult to beat."
Arsene Wenger also said there had been a change in mentality this season, with technical midfielders like Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil now committed to doing the dirty work to help the team.
"They are all on board and they have the belief," Wenger said after Saturday's win over Everton. "Cazorla won many balls and blocked many tackles, even Ozil. "Once you have that in the team, it is not easy to get it, but it shows the belief is there and then you need enough humility to keep it in there. You need to convince the players that you have to work hard to win football games in the Premier League and that you need all 11 to do that."
