Wenger - We're changing people's minds

Arsene Wenger does not believe his side feels any additional pressure from being top of the table because they have always believed in themselves.

The Gunners were not mentioned as potential title-winners before the season started but find themselves four points clear after 13 games.

Despite their credentials being questioned in some quarters, Wenger insists his players are not worried about the wider perception of them.

“There is no real specific pressure. It is a desire,” the manager said. “We want to be where we are. What is important is that we want to play well and maintain that desire to play together and work.

“When I arrived here people explained I couldn't win the title as I am foreign. Everybody has their own logic. I just think you win the title through your quality.

“If we didn't win for eight years it is because we weren't good enough in the important moments of the season. We have a good opportunity to show we are good enough [now] so let's take it.

“The only thing that is changing is not our minds, it's your mind, because until now you never ask me about the pressure because you always thought it was an accident that we are [top] and it won't last.

“Now that it's lasting a bit longer, you start to think: 'we have to consider them a bit more seriously'. You start to think is it a pressure for us? No. We just continue to play well and that's the pressure we have - the desire to play well.”

Wenger accepts there is a different mindset when you are top to when you are hunting down the leaders, but says his side can handle the situation.

“You have a bit less to lose when you chase it, but we have been in both situations,” he said. “You have to focus on playing well and on the quality of your game, and the enjoyment of playing together, and forget about the match.

“The pressure is the pressure. But you have always a kind of pressure as you want to win.”