Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says the players are thriving in the new positive atmosphere generated by fans.
Wenger sees no reason why the Gunners - who have endured plenty of negative headlines in recent frustrating campaigns - should not use their new-found self-belief to their advantage.
"When the team has confidence they go into the game with a positive feeling and a positive attitude. The more you build that confidence up with the results, the more you go into the next game thinking 'let's just do it to win the game'," Wenger said on Arsenal Player.
"What is positive is that the team plays better when the environment is positive.
"We played in a sceptical environment last year and that does not create a great level of confidence. What has changed recently for sure is that our environment is positive, our fans believe in us again.
"That of course is very important if we want to be successful, if you feel your fans believe in you and they think that you are good. I have said many times that I feel it is important for the team to feel that the fans stand behind the team.
"On my side, my job I see the other way - it is not for the fans to make me happy, it is my job to make the fans happy. I feel I do that if they stand behind the team, because that gives you the feeling that they have done something right."
