Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger heads to Middlesbrough for Saturday's lunchtime kick-off knowing that his side cannot afford another slip-up after getting themselves back in the race for the Premier League title.
Although the Gunners are eight points behind league leaders Liverpool, Wenger maintains that the strength in depth of the competition this season will ensure no-one runs away with the title.
Arsenal travel to the Riverside Stadium boosted by last weekend's win against Chelsea but they have already been beaten by the likes of Hull City, Fulham, Stoke City and Manchester City, as well as fifth-placed Aston Villa and that proves the intensity of the league, according to Wenger.
"The level of demands are higher from everywhere," Wenger told Arsenal's website. "You cannot have on one side the best Premier League in the world and on the other side have teams just to turn up and think you will win the game. You will have surprises."
The Gunners boss, though, is determined not to suffer another shock result on Saturday - and is expected to recall several first-team players who missed the midweek Champions League defeat in Porto.
He continued: "I believe we have come back into some consistency - we have beaten Chelsea and Wigan, also Kiev, and that the Porto result was a special game. When you get to a position where you can protect your Premier League game a bit, then you do it.
"You have a period now where you can completely focus on the Premier League and you can set yourself a target. If we can get to within a reasonable difference by Christmas, we still have half of the championship to play after to come back into the race."
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez agrees that it will be a very tight championship this year and speaking ahead of the Reds' clash with Hull City declared it would need the other big four to "mess up their season" to ensure a smooth path towards the title come May.
But, like Wenger, Benitez is fully focused on domestic matters now that the Champions League is on a winter break and has urged his side to knuckle down for the 10 league games before European football resumes.
"We now have almost three months to concentrate on the Premier League, and the FA Cup. We would want to go back into Europe next year still top of the table," Benitez said.
"We have qualified for the next stage in Europe, we are top of the Premier League, and now we can concentrate on domestic considerations. We do not want to give up top spot. If we are still there when we start up again in Europe, the chances of a really good season will be obvious."
Meanwhile, reigning champions Manchester United continue their defence of the title with a number of injury worries ahead of a tricky trip to White Hart Lane to face Harry Redknapp's resurgent Tottenham Hotspur.
Former Spurs striker Dimitar Berbatov is struggling with an Achilles injury, while defender Rio Ferdinand suffered a back spasm towards the end of Wednesday's Champions League draw with Aalborg.
Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra are suspended and Cristiano Ronaldo (hip) and Michael Carrick (thigh) are also receiving treatment, which could leave Ferguson needing the full depth of his squad.
Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari must decide whether to stick with France striker Nicolas Anelka or recall Didier Drogba against West Ham United at Stamford Bridge.
Drogba is available again after completing a three-match ban for throwing a coin into the crowd against Burnley in the Carling Cup and Scolari has never started the Ivorian and Anelka together.
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