TOMAS ROSICKY knows Arsenal are facing the fortnight from hell before they can possibly contemplate a trip to title heaven.
The revitalised Premier League leaders have overturned an 11-point deficit in seven weeks to storm past Chelsea and Manchester United at the top.
But now Arsene Wenger's youngsters are steeling themselves for a two-week spell which will determine whether they are genuine championship contenders or mere pretenders to the throne once again.
Both winger Rosicky and his boss admit the next four league fixtures will make or break their entire season.
That awesome foursome kicks off with a trip to Aston Villa next Wednesday, followed by a home game against United, a date at Chelsea and then a visit from Liverpool.
Rosicky said: "Everybody knows the coming weeks are the critical ones in the whole season.
"If we can win the majority of our next four Premier League games, it will have a huge bearing on where the title goes."
Rosicky's goal sparked the Gunners' incredible fightback on Wednesday night, when they beat struggling Bolton 4-2 after trailing by two early goals.
The Czech international believes the victory will have a huge psychological impact on the team, after they edged ahead of Chelsea on goals scored.
He added: "This win came at just the right time. It is great for the confidence of everyone at the club.
"It shows this team has great mental strength and a desire to win the title.
"It was a real shock to find ourselves 2-0 down. So to turn it around in the style we did was a great boost for everyone.
"Even when we were trailing at half-time, the boss was very confident we would go on to win.
"The most important thing was not to panic. We continued to play ]our game and it paid off. It is such an important result because it shows all the other teams what we are able to do."
Rosicky, who recently signed a new contract, believes the turning point in Arsenal's season was the shock 3-0 home defeat by Chelsea on November 29.
The Gunners have taken an impressive 23 points from their nine league games since, while all their title rivals have faltered.
Rosicky declared: "We have found the consistency we were lacking in the last couple of seasons.
"Since the loss against Chelsea, we have gone on a run and started something new.
"No one expected to close the gap at the top quite so quickly. But things can change in just a few weeks.Can we win the title this year? We are definitely up for it and want to do it."
Rosicky's confidence is shared by Wenger, who has led the club to three Premier League titles already but has no trophy since the 2005 FA Cup.
He said: "We have a real chance to win the title this year and will have a real go.
"After we lost to Chelsea, it looked a little ludicrous to say we would come back.
"Yet, in spite of that, the players continued to fight with real belief. I am very proud of what my players have achieved. They have kept going no matter what people said about them.
"Everyone knows the next four league games will be very important for us. We will have a better idea of where we stand."
One player unable to be a part of the title push is left-back Kieran Gibbs, ruled out for the season with a metatarsal problem.
Gibbs, 20, will have a bone graft op today to heal the fracture he got in the last minute of the Champions League clash with Standard Liege in November.
He said: "I'm gutted. The other option would have been to let the bone grow in my foot. But I'd run the risk of it carrying on into next season and we don't want to do that."
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