Arsene Wenger believes that Arsenal's consistency will dictate whether or not they can win the Premier League this season.

The Gunners secured a 3-1 victory over West Ham United on Boxing Day to end their three-game win-less streak and return to the summit of England's top flight in the process.

Victory over Newcastle United at St James's Park this afternoon will see Wenger's men command top spot at the half-way stage of the campaign, and the Frenchman claims that how his side negotiate the remainder of the season will determine whether or not the title returns to North London in May.

"We want to stay in the race," he told the club's official website. "We have won at West Ham and we go game by game with a big ambition - but we know as well that in the Premier League you always set high standards, and as soon as you drop a fraction, you are in trouble.

"It is down to consistency and until now we have been consistent. You are always judged on your last result, but at the end of the day it is down to how consistent you will be."

Today's encounter in the North East is scheduled to kick off at 1.30pm.