Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger feels his side must focus on maintaining their consistency before turning attentions to a late Premier League title challenge after dismantling goal-shy Aston Villa 5-0 at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners recorded a third straight league victory on Sunday to close up on the top four, and capitalise on Saturday's draw between leaders Chelsea and champions Manchester City.
Arsenal were without leading scorer Alexis Sanchez because of a hamstring problem, but showed they are far from a one-man team with five separate goalscorers against Villa.
Yet despite the convincing way in which lacklustre Villa were despatched with goals from Olivier Giroud, Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott, a Santi Cazorla penalty and a stoppage-time effort from Hector Bellerin, Wenger knows there remains plenty of hard work ahead.
"It is too early to say [whether Arsenal can still make a challenge for the title]," the Frenchman said. "We are 11 points behind -- that means they need to lose four games and we need to win four. I believe that we should try to be consistent and see what happens.
"We have maybe found a better consistency, that will be very important until the end. Let's show that we can win more and it shows you as well that when the confidence level is higher and when everybody's back defensively, it makes a difference.
"Our offensive game was good, even though I believe we had some weaker periods in the game when Aston Villa were in possession.
"We always looked dangerous when we got their lines and defensively we were sound as well. Overall it is a positive day for us."
Ozil played a brilliant volleyed through-ball to release Giroud for Arsenal's opening goal on eight minutes.
The Germany playmaker has impressed since his return from a knee injury, also scoring last weekend in the FA Cup win at Brighton.
"Mesut still lacks a little bit of competitive edge on sharpness, but the quality of his game is exceptional and he's getting back now," Wenger said. "He worked very, very hard physically and he's now ready to play again."
New Arsenal defender Gabriel Paulista was among the unused substitutes after signing from Villarreal, though Wenger is not expecting a hectic final 24 hours of the transfer window.
"I don't think I will be busy," he added. "We have done what we wanted and, unless there is a huge surprise and somebody calls me, then why not? [But] at the moment, nothing. It's very quiet."
