Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says his side is ready to fight to secure a top four finish this season.
Three more points away at Newcastle United saw the Gunners consolidate their third position in the table as they opened a six-point gap from Liverpool in fifth.
And the Frenchman was full of praise for his players after victory over the Magpies.
"[I am pleased with] the spirit of the team and the mental quality of the players," Wenger told the club's official website.
"They are outstanding guys and it's a pleasure to see how they behave and a credit to the club as well to see that quality on the behavioural front and the desire to do well.
"I was very pleased with the resilience because it shows qualities that are important such as solidarity, the fact that we refuse to give in and on that front I think we did very well.
"We're a stronger team today than we were in September and that's down to the focus of the whole club, of the whole staff and the quality of work the whole staff puts in.
"Let's hope we can go from strength to strength now until the end of the season."
