Arsenal captain Robin van Persie says the competitiveness of the Premier League has again lifted this season.

The Gunners have fought their way to third place so far this season.

Van Persie, who has now gone four Gunners matches without scoring for the first time since 2010, wrote in the matchday programme: "I remember when - without being disrespectful - I first arrived here, there were some games when I was thinking less about whether we would win or not, and more about who would score for us and how many we would get.

"There were some games like that in my first couple of years, but those days are 100 per cent finished because the so-called smaller teams have improved so much.

"Look at the league table, there are battles all the way down.

"That QPR game was a wake-up call for us.

"I don't believe that we didn't work hard, because I have seen the stats and we did work hard physically, but everyone realises you need to be 100% against every single team, or you will be punished.

"Every team has great players who can be decisive at any moment."