Critics fired us up, claims Cesc
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Cesc Fabregas maintains the critics who wrote off Arsenal's title challenge before a ball had even been kicked "fired us up" for the campaign.
Speaking to the March issue of the Official Arsenal Magazine, in an interview conducted ahead of last weekend's game, the Spaniard recalled: "It is true that people were taking us out of the top four at the start of the season, even placing us in the middle of the table.
"I don't think it added pressure, in fact it probably helped us more because we wanted to everyone what we could do. It fired us up."
Fabregas continued: "We knew we had the quality, we know what we can do. The important thing is always not what others believe, but what you yourself believe.
"If we don't do well then people can say what they want - but if we do well, then that will be for everyone inside for the club and for the fans. That is who we are playing for, no-one else.
"You want to win all the time and last season it was difficult. Each morning when you wake up and go to training, if you are in third or fourth position, it is not the same.
"Now every morning when we come into training you feel ready to fight for the title, to take on the big teams, the big players, and that is why I really love being a footballer. For these moments."
Fabregas believes the Gunners can draw strength from their position ahead of the chasing pack, but warned they "would be stupid" to believe the title was already in the bag.
"We should take inspiration from being top. We have to try to keep the gap, and keep playing in the same way," he said.
"We are not thinking it's all over, we would be very stupid to do that. We have to keep working hard and keep believing we can do it.
"If we can win it it would be amazing considering the age of the team - it would be unbelievable.
"For me to win the league at 20 years old, playing every game, that would be something unforgettable."