Wenger keeping up the chase

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has called on his team to maintain their high standards and keep the pressure on the Premier League leaders.

A storming second half display at Wigan, which saw them come from behind to triumph 4-1, stretched their unbeaten league record to 18 matches, but with Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United all winning it did little for their league ambitions.

"We want to go as close a possible to the top teams, that is the aim," said Wenger. "The only thing we can do is win our games and hope the teams in front of us drop points."

He added: "That was not the case in this instance but we will continue in this vein. We also want to make the gap between ourselves and fifth place as big as possible."

"It demanded a lot of character and a determined attitude. It was like a cup game after the Champions League match.

"To go away and play in this kind of atmosphere we had to be strong.

"There were a few turning points. Wigan hit the post at 1-0 and showed fantastic commitment and good organisation in the first half.

"But it all about us in the second half. Technically, we were the better side.

"At one stage we had four strikers on the pitch. We gambled as we wanted three points, not one, and it paid off."