Nacho Monreal believes Arsenal’s increased maturity is the secret to their success this season, with the Gunners seemingly set for a title battle.

Arsene Wenger’s men recorded their third consecutive Premier League victory against Stoke City on Saturday, thanks to goals from Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Alex Iwobi.

The North Londoners look like genuine title contenders, along with Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City.

Arsenal have often faded from title battles late on the season in the past, but Monreal believes they can last the pace this time.

“In comparison with previous years I do think we are a more mature team, we’re more sure in ourselves and in what the coach is asking us to do,” he said.

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“The dressing room is fantastic, we all get on really well and we’re pulling in the same direction.

“In the last few years we’ve won two FA Cups, two Community Shields and that’s great. But of course, the fans want more and it is completely understandable that fans of a big club like Arsenal want to win the Premier League.

“I can’t promise anything because of course there are many teams trying to win the championship as well.

“But I do believe that if we can continue our good form, if we can maintain a good dynamic around the team, then we will be in with a good chance.

“So I hope that we can win it and that we can celebrate it with the fans.”

Stefano Okaka is the perfect type of player for the Premier Legua,e according to Watford manager Walter Mazzarri.

Okaka netted twice in the Hornets’ entertaining 3-2 win over stuttering Everton at Vicarage Road in Saturday’s early kick-off.

Okaka’s first goal was a sublime back-heel finish in the first half, before he netted his second and Watford’s third in the second period.

And Mazzari is confident the Italian international will prove his worth through his goals and his all-round play.

“I have known him since he was very young when he used to play for Roma,” he said.

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“He was a great talent and in the summer we had the opportunity to sign him.

“We took the opportunity in the best possible way. I think he is perfect for the Premier League because he doesn’t only help himself but he also helps the other team-mates play football and score

“As soon as the club had the opportunity to sign him they managed to do it.”

Mazzarri believes the striker’s improved performance against Ronald Koeman’s side is down to match practice, after his recent return from injury.

Mazzarri said: “With many injuries unfortunately this is what happens. It takes time for a player when he comes back to recover and to be 100 per cent ready.

“We have already seen difference between last week and this week with Okaka.

“He is a very important player and this also shows how important it is not to have these players available.”

For the first eight years of his Liverpool career, Lucas Leiva was known as a holding midfielder but now he believes centre-back is where he’s best deployed.

After joining the Reds back in 2007, Lucas became a staple of the side in defensive midfield but was moved to the heart of the defence by current manager Jurgen Klopp.

The Brazilian international’s added versatility is a definite bonus for the Merseysiders and although it took some adapting to, he is enjoying the switch.

“To be honest, playing there is something I had never thought about before the manager suggested it,” explained Lucas.

“The manager has put a lot of trust in me. He thinks I have the qualities to play there. Every game I feel more comfortable and I feel more natural there.

“I’d say it’s probably my best position to play for Liverpool. Over my last 20 to 25 games for the club, I’ve played maybe 18 or 19 matches as a centre-back.

“I feel very comfortable in that role now. And when he needs someone to play in midfield he knows he can count on me there too.

“It hasn’t been so different. Of course with the way Jürgen likes to play, the holding midfield player has to do a lot more I’d say in terms of what I used to do before in that holding role.

“Playing as a centre-back is something similar. You don’t run as much as when you are in midfield but you need to be very focused. You need to be able to read the game.”

Everton manager Ronald Koeman admits he is concerned by his side’s awful run of form which has seen them record just one win in their last ten Premier League games.

Koeman’s men went 1-0 up against Watford through Romelu Lukaku on Saturday but saw Stefano Okaka score twice and Sebastian Prodl add a third for the Hornets at Vicarage Road.

The Belgian striker scored a consolation goal but it was too late to earn Everton a point.

The Toffees won four of their opening five games but have struggled for wins since and welcome Arsenal and Liverpool to Goodison Park before Christmas.

“Of course I am worried as a manger at the moment because we’re having a bad run of results,” said Koeman.

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“The team is too reactive and not taking initiative in the game and I know of course it’s maybe a lack of confidence.

“But if you start a game well, 1-0 up, you need better belief in the team and not going back and defending and nervous and not good ball possession and that in my opinion is a big problem.

“It’s maybe good that we’re playing Arsenal and Liverpool at home, we are strong at home, away we have more problems, they are both good teams but we can beat them.”

Gareth McAuley may have to please Tony Pulis every week, but the experienced centre-back insists it is nothing compared to the 1.2 million people who have him in their fantasy teams.

McAuley has scored three goals so far this season and has been ever-present in the Baggies’ rise to seventh in the Premier League table prior to their clash with Chelsea.

This had made him a common pick on the Fantasy Premier League game and the 37-year-old is now the seventh most popular player – in a game where players often focus on strikers and midfielders.

Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images

McAuley admits he has his work cut out keeping his 1.2 million ‘managers’ happy, but believes his selection is more down to his £4.9m value.

“It’s hard enough keeping one manager happy, never mind 1.2 million people that are looking for points every week,” he said.

“It’s actually quite funny when you think I’m just a guy from Larne. I’ve got a few goals early in the season and people expect us to keep a few clean sheets, too.

“I think I’m cheap as well so maybe that has something to do with it.”

Charlie Austin was a casualty of Southampton’s midweek loss to Hapoel Be’er Sheva and with Middlesbrough looming, Claude Puel has urged his other strikers to pick up the slack.

Saints’ 27-year-old top-scorer has nine goals in all competitions this year, but as Puel’s side crashed out of the Europa League at the hands of the Israeli outfit, Austin suffered a shoulder injury.

And with Southampton in mid-table, Puel knows the likes of Jay Rodriguez and Shane Long must step up.

(Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

“It’s not just one player,” Puel said. “If Jay can have game time it’s not the pressure for him, just because he can play.

“It’s important to say all the players can score in the team and have to take their responsibility.

“We will see if Jay, Shane, other offensive players can help the team.

“I am confident for all my players. I like this squad because they work very hard every time.
“We know we have to improve on being clinical, but this comes with work.

“With all these chances since the beginning of the season in the majority of our games, it will be interesting to be more clinical. It’s important to make progress and to improve.”

Antonio Conte seems to have taken to life in the Premier League like a duck to water, but the Italian admits a lack of injuries have played their part in Chelsea’s purple patch too.

The 47-year-old former Italy manager has made just eight changes to his starting line-up in Premier League matches – the lowest number of switches by any of the 20 clubs, which has surely been helped by a lack of European football.

Conte was this week named Barclays Manager of the Month for the second month running, after the Blues won all their Premier League fixtures in November to top the table – while Diego Costa and Pedro completed a clean sweep of the awards, winning Player and Goal of the Month respectively.

And while Nemanja Matic’s calf problem meant Chelsea’s run of six games unchanged was finally ended at Manchester City last week, the Chelsea manager is relishing the lack of time his charges are generally spending on the treatment table.

“I am very pleased to have had few injuries for so long because for a season it is important if you are able to avoid muscular problems,” he said.

“The traumatic problems are very difficult to avoid, but to avoid the muscular problems it is very important to have a method, a philosophy during training sessions and to work with the players, together with the medical staff, to try to find the best solution to have few injuries.

(Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)

“The number of injuries is always important at the end of the season, and usually when you have many injuries you can lose key players and this is not good for the team.

“It is normal if you have a soft training session every day that you never have problems with the players. It is the more simple way to be a manager.

“The most important thing is to arrive prepared for the game in the right way, then if you can find the right solution for the players to work and also to enjoy the training, this is the best.

“My philosophy with my staff is we continue to work with my method we used with the Italy national team and with Juventus, and with Siena, Bari, Atlanta – all my experience.

“It is important to look and understand if someone is more tired than another, or if someone is a bit lazy or not and you can push him. The eye in my job is very important.”

Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino said referees focus their attention on Jose Mourinho because he is ‘the Special One’.

The Manchester United manager has been fined on three separate occasions this season, once for comments about referee Anthony Taylor in United’s 0-0 draw with Liverpool,  and also for his touchline behaviour in the Red Devils’ clashes against West Ham United and Burnley.

Spurs are currently fifth in the Premier League, one place and six points above United, and thumped bottom side Swansea City 5-0 at White Hart Lane last time around.

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Pochettino, whose side travel to Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon, said his Portuguese counterpart was one of the best bosses the game has ever seen, and feels Mourinho incurs the wrath of officials because of his high profile.

“I try to be objective and his behaviour is no different from other managers,” said the Argentine. “But because he is ‘the Special One’ sometimes referees, people, media focus on him.

“But if you compare with other managers who might behave worse than him, they are not in focus because they are not ‘the Special One’ like him.

“It is very difficult to have that control sometimes to manage yourself. You get frustrated on the touchline. His behaviour is normal; sometimes you are frustrated for a decision and you show your disappointment.”

Jose Mourinho has bemoaned Manchester United’s inability to turn performances into points – but Antonio Valencia says style is just as important as substance at Old Trafford.

The Premier League’s top four continues to fade in the distance for United, who sit nine points off fourth-placed Manchester City following their 1-1 draw with Everton last weekend.

 (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Indeed, quite remarkably for a club of their stature, they have won just once in their last eight Premier League games.

But right-back Valencia offers no apologies for his side’s more adventurous style of play this season and is adamant positive results will soon follow.

“I think we’ve always had a duty as Manchester United players in whatever game we’re playing in,” said Valencia, whose side entertain Tottenham on Sunday afternoon.

“It’s not only a duty to win trophies and titles but also to play well with entertaining football.

“That’s what we fight hard to do. We play hard and we try to play our absolute best in an entertaining manner so the fans leave the stadium and go home happy with a good result after seeing some good football.

“Any game in the English Premier League is entertaining and that’s always our aim. What we have in our mindset and in our thoughts when we’re going into a game is that we try to win, get the three points, and play well at the same time.

“I’ll repeat: I think that’s what we’ve been doing in these last few games. I think we have been entertaining the fans and producing some good football.

“And again it’s all about continuing with that and trying to get the three points on Sunday.”

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has revealed his interest in bringing Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge to the London Stadium when the January transfer window swings open.

The Hammers travel to Anfield on Sunday to face Jurgen Klopp’s men, but Sturridge will not feature after being ruled out with a calf injury.

That, Bilic admits, is a concern should West Ham make their move next month, but in November Klopp categorically insisted the 27-year-old is not for sale, despite a number of clubs showing interest.

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Bilic said: “He’s one of the biggest talents, he’s a great player. The talent is there, the touch, the finishing, everything is great.

“The only thing that has stopped him being a regular for club and country are the injuries.

“He’s just a player that has been linked with us, basically, and we’ve been linked with almost every player.

“We’re always there in contention. Most of the time it’s absolutely not true, 95% of the time.

“But you’re asking me about Sturridge and I have no problem about that. All the clubs are thinking about him because he is that kind of player.

“I don’t know his work-rate, I don’t know his dedication to his job or whatever but unfortunately for England and for Liverpool and especially for him he’s injured. That’s his problem.”