Arsene Wenger remains confident Arsenal have the strength of character needed to force themselves back into the top four.
The Gunners head to Sunderland this weekend on the back of a 7-1 thrashing of Blackburn at Emirates Stadium, which was a welcome first league win of 2012 and reduced the gap on fourth-placed Chelsea, who drew with Manchester United, to three points.
Wenger's men are set to host four of the five sides currently above them over the coming weeks, and the Arsenal manager feels the team can produce the needed consistency.
"We still have real hope that we can finish the season the strongest," the Arsenal manager said, quoted on the club's official website.
"We have a good spirit and desire within the group - and we have quality.
"We know that with the position we are in we need an exceptional consistency, so that is the challenge we have in front of us at Sunderland."