Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has claimed that his side are on the right course to challenge for the Premier League title this season.
Wenger has once again faced questions over his future in 2016, but the Gunners go into Saturday's match against Swansea City looking for a sixth straight win in all competitions.
It was a home tie against the Swans that effectively ended their title hopes last season, but Wenger believes that there is a more "positive" vibe around the club this term.
"We had two low points [last season]. The first was to lose at Man United and that was straight before Swansea. We damaged our chances. Last year we had a very negative experience with Swansea who killed our opportunity to win the Premier League. We were really criticised a lot after the Tottenham game but we did extremely well. With 10 men we came back to 2-2 and played extremely well. But after that we had the negative environment after Swansea," he told reporters.
"I believe our fans are behind us. It is strange because in 2016 how many games have we lost away from home? One at Man United. When you listen to people you'd never believe it. So we have to perform. I must say that the negativity comes very quickly. It is a virus that travels very quickly and goes away very slowly. I believe at the moment the vibes are positive. We have reduced distance with the top teams. We have to continue to get to the next level.
"We can only think we have to create a positive environment and to do that we have to perform. We want to perform. The rest we have to ignore. Let's focus on the way we perform and the way we play. You focus on what is important for you and what can help you. The way the team plays and what is important and accept the assessment of people around you. Fans are part of our game and they have the right to be happy, not to be happy. My job is to focus on my job and trying to make them happy."
Arsenal have lost their last two home matches against Swansea.
Barney Corkhill
