Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits he struggled to resist pressure to spend big over the summer.
He said: "We can still drop out of the top four if we are not consistent.
"At least we have shown that we have qualities to be in there and to fight for the championship.
"I always felt we could do that, right from the start.
"I am not surprised we are doing well, because I had to resist when everyone was saying to me 'buy, buy, buy' - and even bye-bye!"
Wenger added: "Was that belief right or wrong? At the moment, I was right, but I have to be right after 38 games. That is different."