By Sportsmail Reporter

PUBLISHED: 05:22 EST, 16 October 2012 | UPDATED: 05:22 EST, 16 October 2012

Arsenal goalkeeper Vito Mannone is confident the Gunners will challenge for the Barclays Premier League title this term.

Arsene Wenger's side have lost just one of their opening seven league games – a 2-1 defeat at home to Chelsea last month.

Flying high: The Gunners have enjoyed a pleasing start to the season

Flying high: The Gunners have enjoyed a pleasing start to the season

The Gunners have already travelled to Manchester City and Liverpool, and the Italian stopper, who has deputised for the injured Wojciech Szczesny, is confident Arsenal have the attributes to win a first title since 2004.

'We have a good solid squad and I think we can go for it,' said Mannone.

'I have no doubt that if we keep our focus and we keep our mentality, it's not a doubt that we are going to challenge for the title.

In goal: Mannone has deputised for Szczesny

In goal: Mannone has deputised for Szczesny

'This is a club that is made for victories, it's not a club that just wants to do well and get the third or fourth place. This club wants to win trophies and I wish that I can give my help for this team to do it.'

Speaking to the Arsenal website, Mannone added: 'I am pleased with our start to the season. The team is doing great, we had [many of] the big games already.

'It's not easy because every game in the Premier League and Champions League is a big game for this club, so you need to have the right standard and you need to prove to everybody what you've got.

'We had a few good wins and a few draws away, and not many other teams will get draws at Man City or a win at West Ham. It is not easy to win at Liverpool, as well. I think we have started the Champions League well too, the team has got a good base to kick on from. I am looking forward to some big achievements.'


The comments below have not been moderated.

We're getting there, we just need to take it one game at a time.

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- SJG, Hemel Hempstead, 16/10/2012 14:53 - You outplayed us by creating a whole 3 opportunities in 90 minutes? You got lucky that we had a bad day in front of goal and Cech was inspired otherwise we could of easily stuck 4 past you. Sometimes it's with you, sometimes it isn't. The match against you chavs was one of those were we didn't get the rub of the green, so be it but don't kid yourself that you played us off the park. We were easily the better team and when you consider your on pitch team cost 200 million + we didn't do so badly. Now run along plastic.

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I know that we deserved to win the game against chelsea, but by the end of the day we lost it and it was 3 points less. Regarding Liverpool, I don't count them as one of the EPL big 6 anymore (for the time being but I respect them as a team). Regarding Spurs, even if they are our rivals but we should admit they are a force in the EPL and that's coming from an Arsenal fan, but they (spurs Fans) have to admit that they are way way way behind Arsenal in all aspects of the game. Again, we still have 8 games against the big 6, and we should well negotiate them otherwise we will find it difficult to win the championship this year. COYG, Gooner 4 Ever from Morocco !

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nice 12 points you have there

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Hemel hempstead... Wake up. You r really true blinded with yr Chelsea thing. Watch the game carefully, both chelsea goals not a build up goal. Ooppss sorry..! U might not really a good footballer since u r with a team that have no specific game style. At least we have a same coach that last for 16 years already... Do Chelsea have that? What really you are supporting??

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Queue the dribbling hordes blathering on about how "Arsenal are a small club", "Arsenal never win anything", "Wenger's a rubbish manager" etc etc etc. Idiots and trolls, nothing more.

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Chelsea incredibly lucky? We completely outplayed Arsenal, it was not down to luck that Arsenal didnt get any points against us,it was down to your players incapable of finishing easy chances , in other words Arsenal are shi*

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Youssef, Casablanca. Not many teams will go to Manchester City or Liverpool and get points this season, getting 4 out of a possible 6 shows how improved this Arsenal team is. Don't forget that Chelsea were incredibly lucky to leave the Emirates with any points, Arsenal outplayed them for long periods of the match and but for some poor defending would of had at least a draw. Now that Giroud has started to settle in we will start to see just how good and capable this Arsenal team is and I think we have as good a chance of winning the league as either of the Manchester teams or Chelsea. Rocky. Walthamstow. I agree, Mannone and Jenkinson are both looking like excellent players this season, Gibbs has really impressed me as well. I agree that we need to win something this season(F.A cup or league cup at the very least) and then we can watch this team improve.

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"big 6" and "spurs" in the same sentence? Are you sure? Nah, can't see it!!! COYG

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Mannone is standing almost alongside Jenkinson as most improved player... the future is looking very bright - lets hope a trophy of some sort comes this season then I think they'll be no turning back for this team COYG

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