Arsène Wenger has confounded his critics many times and, with Arsenal’s 2-1 win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last weekend, he did it again. The trick, though, as the Arsenal manager readily conceded yesterday, is to repeat it against less fashionable opposition.

Arsenal get the chance today when Wigan Athletic visit the Emirates Stadium. If they are to continue their revival in the Barclays Premier League title race, Wenger believes that nothing less than victory will do. Another slip-up — as in the defeats against Fulham, Hull City, Stoke City, Aston Villa and Manchester City this season — is unthinkable.

“After winning against Chelsea we have more responsibility to win every game,” Wenger said. “We want to win every game and we are willing to do it. I have never questioned the desire of this squad, even when there is scepticism around it. There are enough signs to think that we can do well in the league.

“But we know we must be more consistent. That couldn’t be done before because of the quality of our performances. We know that we have to beat all the big teams in all the games from now on and we have to deliver now in a more consistent level against the so-called smaller teams.”

Defeat against Chelsea would have left Arsenal 13 points adrift of their West London rivals. Instead they are only seven points behind them and eight behind Liverpool, the leaders. They have made up an eight-point gap in the past, when they won the league in 1998, pipping Manchester United by one point.

“Yes, we came back then,” Wenger said. “And I am confident we have the quality to do it again. Why? Because I believe the rest of the Premier League has lifted the level much more than before and because I trust my team to be capable of achieving that.”

A rejuvenated spirit among the squad should help. After William Gallas was stripped of the captaincy amid a flurry of ill-timed remarks about his team-mates, Wenger believes that harmony has returned to the dressing-room. “The atmosphere is very good,” he said. “A manager would never tell you it is bad but, when you have a big win, it always helps. No matter how good it is, if you lose games, the morale goes down.

“We had a very good weekend [by beating Chelsea]. We want to build on that and we have to be more stable defensively. We have conceded too many goals.”

Gallas, who is unlikely to face Wigan because of a calf injury, still has a part to play. “I want him to stay,” Wenger said. “He is an important member of the squad and I have spoken about it with him. The problem in the modern game is that you have to fight against people who want to destabilise you by creating news. I can do nothing about that. But we want to keep William. What has been said doesn’t change our mind.”