Arsenal can challenge for Premier League, says Arsene Wenger

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes his side can win the Premier League again after an impressive 6-1 victory against Southampton.

The Gunners put in a dominant first-half display - led by new signings Santi Cazorla and Lukas Podolski - to overwhelm the newly promoted Saints.

Wenger said: "We have a chance for the title but first we must show consistency.

"We have the quality to do it but we have to show how much we want it."

The Gunners, who last won the title in 2004, are two points behind leaders Chelsea after four games and have only conceded once in an unbeaten start.

Wenger says he will know more about his side's chances after next weekend's trip to champions Manchester City.

He said: "We have a big week coming up because we go on Tuesday now to Montpellier in the Champions League and then on Sunday we play at Man City - and we have two interesting weeks coming up because we play Chelsea as well.

"We will know more about our team then but there is a positive energy in this team, a desire to play well together, and real team play. It is very exciting."

Spaniard Cazorla was not on the scoresheet against the Saints but was pivotal to the win, linking superbly with Germany international Podolski throughout in another excellent display.

Wenger revealed that he tried to sign the 27-year-old in the summer of 2011 but was glad to have him available now.

He said: "When you love football, you love to watch players like Santi Cazorla.

"His attitude is first-rate and he is technically brilliant. You can see already that he is at the middle of everything.

"When we move like that around him we become very enjoyable to watch.

"Cazorla is a player who is just a pleasure to watch. You want him to have the ball. He typifies what Spain's midfielders are today - he is technically perfect, he has great vision and a great team attitude.

"We did fight with Malaga at the time [to get him last summer] and they were in Spain, they were quick to do the deal. But we remained on the ball - we were quite advanced with him last season."