Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal are improving but is wary of the strength in the Premier League.
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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes his side are on the up but is wary of the strength in the Premier League.
The Gunners, who lie eight points behind leaders Liverpool, head into Saturday's match at Middlesbrough seeking a third straight league win.
Wenger's men have endured a testing beginning to the new term and the midweek UEFA Champions League loss at Porto threatened to undo their recent improvement.
But the French coach is remaining calm over the defeat after he left out key players in Portugal, with five of those expected to return at The Riverside.
He told the club's
official website: "The level of demands are higher from everywhere.
"People always want top, top quality with top results, but on the other hand you have better teams in the Premier League than ever and that is why it is difficult for everybody.
"You cannot have on one side the best Premier League in the world and on the other side have teams just to turn up and think you will win the game. You will have surprises."
He continued: "I believe we have come back into some consistency - we have beaten Chelsea and Wigan, also (Dynamo) Kiev, and that the Porto result was a special game.
"When you get to a position where you can protect your Premier League game a bit, then you do it.
"In this case it was very important and was why we made that choice (against Porto). Hopefully it will pay off."
