Arsene Wenger's squad marched into the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a stunning victory in Milan last week, but were held to a frustrating goalless draw at Wigan on Sunday.

The Gunners are two points ahead of Manchester United at the top of the table, but have now played a game more than the defending champions.

Despite having not won in the Premier League since February 11 after three successive draws, the mood within the Arsenal camp remains positive.

Van Persie, 24, returned to action as a second-half substitute at the JJB Stadium following the latest lay-off of what has been an injury-plagued campaign.

It was a first appearance since January 9 for the Dutchman, who opened the campaign in superb form with seven goals from 11 games before being hampered by knee and muscle problems.

For van Persie, getting back into action again could not have come soon enough.

"I started the season with very big ideas, my ambition was very high and it still is," van Persie told Arsenal TV OnLine.

"I have missed many games - but I am thinking positive at the moment and I want to end this season good with the team.

"I am happy to be back and am quite positive that we can win the league and the Champions League."

Middlesbrough come to Emirates Stadium for the Saturday's televised early evening kick-off.

Van Persie knows there can be little margin for error.

He said: "In the last three games we have lost six points in total and that is not good enough.

"We have to get in there again and come back stronger because we still have nine games to play and it is vital.

"If Manchester United win their game in hand then we are one point behind them and we have to be sharp."

Van Persie added: "There are big games coming up - Manchester United away, Liverpool at home, Chelsea and all the others as well.

"We need to win everything and that is our job at the moment."

Wenger believes his team have been "a bit unlucky" in their recent Premier League games, having also drawn at home to Aston Villa as well as the controversial match at Birmingham, where striker Eduardo suffered a broken leg.

The Arsenal manager, however, feels his men can still deliver the championship, provided they "remain calm and determined".

Key to that progression looks set to be the midfield partnership of Cesc Fabregas and Mathieu Flamini.

Wenger feels it is one which can rival the likes of French duo Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit, who helped drive the Gunners to the Double in 1998.

"Yes, this is the best partnership," declared the Arsenal boss.

"Going forward they [Fabregas and Flamini] are technically good and very mobile.

"Before we had players with impact and now the players' strength is in mobility.

"Maybe they are less physically strong in the challenge than Vieira and Petit, but they have a good understanding and they cover each other well."

Flamini believes the current Arsenal squad have the quality to stay the course.

"You just have to score goals and we didn't - so now we have to work harder in training and be ready for Middlesbrough," said the 24-year-old, who has yet to agree a new deal with the Gunners as the likes of Real Madrid, Juventus and AC Milan are reported to be closely monitoring the situation.

"We missed a little bit in the final part - but it's like that sometimes.

"We have the quality and we are strong so we just have to keep going."