Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has declared that his side's fine away form is down to a strong mentality and team spirit built during last season's push for fourth place.

The Gunners have won seven consecutive Premier League games on the road, a run that continued last weekend with a 3-1 success at Sunderland, which took Arsene Wenger's side top of the table.

Wilshere has insisted that the Gunners have a reliable core ready to fight for honours this season, challenging his side to reproduce their away form at the Emirates on a regular basis.

He told the club's official website: "I think we've carried that on from last season. There was a mentality at the end of last season where we had to win games. We had to get that fourth spot.

"We've carried that on into this season so far, especially with the away results. We seem to play really well away from home and hopefully we can take that form into the home games now as well.

"We all get on really well here. We've got a great set of lads and we've been together for four or five years now, most of us. We're starting to build a real friendship and I think that's shown on the pitch."

Wenger's men are currently preparing for their opening game in this season's Champions League, which comes tomorrow night against Marseille.