Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has insisted that his side's players have grown from boys to men and backed them to maintain their impressive title challenge into the New Year.
Wenger's team ended 2013 with 82 points - more than any of their Premier League rivals - as they returned to the top of the table thanks to a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Newcastle United on Sunday, with seven of the last nine clubs to head into the New Year at the summit going on to win the English title in May.
According to Sport24, although Wenger refused to be carried away following a win that showed that Arsenal has the physical and mental attributes to match their undoubted technical skills, he however, admitted that he was impressed by his players' resilience despite the absence of Mesut Ozil.
Stating that they managed to stand up to the challenge provided by Newcastle, Wenger also said that they showed a good mentality and threw their bodies into the line, adding that there is a good solidarity and strength in the side with more mature players.