Wenger Prefers to Focus on Top Level Performance as Clash Mars Victory

Arsene Wenger stopped short of warning Tottenham that his Arsenal side were targeting third-place in the Premier League, but Monday night's last-minute victory over Newcastle provided all the evidence Harry Redknapp will need.

The Gunners are now just one point behind their north London rivals in the wake of a five-game winning streak that has helped them to overturn what was at one point a 10 point gap between the sides.

But Wenger preferred to focus on his Arsenal side's performance, instead of the situation at their rivals, after the club came from behind to beat Newcastle 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium.

"It's the best answer to respond to something that has been questioned at times," Wenger is quoted in the Telegraph. "I believe it shows we have quality, we have spirit. It was a relentless effort against Newcastle from the first to the last; the temp was absolutely top level.

"We kept going until the last seconds of the game. We feel now in the team we have that complete and total commitment to do as well as we can and give absolutely everything. And that gets the crowd behind the team."

Thomas Vermaelen hit a 95th-minute winner as Arsenal set a new Premier League record for winning four consecutive matches after falling behind in each of them.

Hatem Be Arfa had given Newcastle an early lead with a composed finish but Robin van Persie turned in Theo Walcott's cross less than a minute later to level the tie.

Tempers flared between Arsenal captain van Persie and Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul at the final whistle but Wenger played down the clash after the game.

"If it's history from Holland or it's today's story I don't know" Wenger added. "I will find out but I'm happy he stayed yellow and didn't become red," Wenger added. "Robin is absolutely committed; he gave absolutely everything tonight and got us a quick equaliser as well."