Vermaelen & Fabregas talk up Arsenal’s chances

Thomas Vermaelen, Arsenal's free-scoring centre-back who has been the toast of the Emirates in defence and attack so far this season, believes that the Gunners are the Premier League's form side. As European leagues take a break for a raft of World Cup qualification play-offs and friendlies, the Belgian defender is bullish about the club's title chances.

"If we look at the rankings, we are second and it is a message to other teams that we are involved in the race to be champions. It is good that we have had a good series of games, it is important to continue and stay focused on every game because there are a lot of important games." The biggest of those games comes on November 29, when Arsenal host league leaders Chelsea in a titanic clash at the top of the table.

Boss Arsene Wenger told Arsenal's website yesterday that one of the reasons for the club's success to date this season, and why he is hopeful that the club can stick with the pace of the Premier League this year, it that the squad he is picking from has played together for such a long time - in relative football terms. (Indeed, it is why he had no hesitation at the weekend comparing his current crop of players with the Invincibles of 2003-04, who included Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Freddie Ljungberg and Robert Pires in their number.)

"I believe something that is very important is that we have built the team together for a few years," said the Frenchman. "I feel we have learned a lot. Many of the players who played two years ago are in the squad today. That's why I am really happy when we play as a real team. Players arrived at the age of 16 and so I enjoy it more because you are not allowed to do that anymore in the modern game."

Meanwhile club captain Cesc Fabregas, who tops the scoring charts with nine goals in all competitions (and six in the Premier league) has claimed that the added responsibility of leading the team on the pitch has been no added burden on his 22-year-old shoulders. The Spaniard was made captain last year at the callow age of 21 after indiscreet comments about teammates by the previous incumbent William Gallas were printed in national newspapers.

"The captaincy hasn't changed me at all," said Fabregas. "My team-mates have done a great job for me as well, to be honest. They showed me they believe and help me with everything. There has never been any trouble so I am very happy with how things are going." And he insisted that the dressing room is a happy place, even though Gallas - who questioned the team's spirit last year - remains at the club.

"The issue with William is gone for us," he told the Arsenal website. "We don’t think about it anymore and are happy with the way things are going at the moment. The dressing room has always been really together and kept believing. Even if we didn’t win anything last year, we were really close and in all the competitions right until the end. So the mood in the dressing room is always really positive."