The Gunners go into tomorrow's home clash with Newcastle aiming to close on third-placed Tottenham, who were beaten at Everton, and put distance between themselves and Chelsea, who beat Stoke on Saturday.

Arsenal have found some consistency in recent weeks, winning four from their last five Premier League games, which included back-to-back victories over Spurs and Liverpool.

Having crashed out of the FA Cup at Sunderland and been unable to overturn a 4-0 first leg deficit against AC Milan in the Champions League, despite the morale-boosting 3-0 home win, Wenger knows his men must retain focus if they are to stay the course.

"As a group, we have learned from what happened at the end of last season - you learn from every disappointment," said Wenger, who saw the previous campaign quickly unravel following a shock defeat in the Carling Cup final to Birmingham at Wembley.

"The team knows, subconsciously, that to finish in the top four this season requires fantastic fight, whereas maybe that was taken for granted towards the end of last year.

"That is the difference - this year we know we have to fight to get in there."

Wenger added: "There is no danger of complacency now, like there could have been a little bit in the league last season.

"We know that we have a massive task in front of us in the Premier League

"We set ourselves the target of going right until the end of the season and take it game by game.

"I believe that we have been very consistent in the last 18 or 19 games.

"We have created a momentum with our last few wins, but we want to keep that going. because it is fragile at the top

"Liverpool are a good side, but they are seventh in the league, so it is difficult for everyone."

Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny followed up his fine double penalty save in the win at Anfield, secured by a stoppage-time strike from Robin van Persie, with another clean sheet against AC Milan.

The 21-year-old Pole is something of an extrovert character, but one whom Wenger feels is very much challenged towards continued improvement.

"I always give him my honest opinion of his performance, and he takes it very well," said Wenger.

"I have always been honest with him, even as a young goalkeeper at 16 or 17. That will always remain.

"He was outstanding at Liverpool and I am the first to say that when he deserves it.

"For me, he is an outstanding talent with an outstanding future, but talent without effort is nothing.

"He knows that and I have to make sure he knows that."

Wenger is expecting a stern challenge from Newcastle, who themselves are not out of contention to gatecrash the top four.

He said: "First of all they play with a fantastic attitude, but basically what they have done very well is that they bought well. That is one of the secrets in our game.

"[Yohan] Cabaye was a very good buy, with [Hatem] Ben Arfa, [Demba] Ba, [Papiss] Cisse. All their buys were successful."