Arsene Wenger has insisted that Arsenal will "fight like mad" in order to bounce back from their disappointing start to the campaign.

The Gunners have endured their worst start to a season since 1982, which has led to certain sections of the Emirates Stadium support questioning the Frenchman's position at the club.

However, with qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions League secure once more, Wenger is hopeful that his side can now string together a run of victories to remain in contention in the Premier League.

"We have not started very well but we had never the squad together since the start of the season," he is quoted as saying by the London Evening Standard. "It was a post-World Cup start typically. I think we have what is requested to do it [win the league]. We have to fight like mad now to come back as much as possible to show that we can compete in every single game.

"We have fought many times for the title. People always remember who won it but the fight has been very tight for long periods in the last eight or nine years. we have a big competition in England, we have to accept that. The Premier League level goes always up and this season Chelsea has started very well. They will be difficult to catch but everybody will fight to come back on them.

"Before Christmas, what you want always to do is to make sure you are in the pot for the Champions League and that you fight at the top of the league. At the moment we have achieved the first target but not the second one so we have a battle in front of us to come back in there."

Arsenal play host to third-placed Southampton this evening, looking to improve on their own position of seventh in the league table.