Dennis Bergkamp senses the spirit is right among the Arsenal side this season.

The Dutchman has seen players come and go in almost nine years at Highbury but he believes this group are coming together.

Certainly the team's nine-point lead at the top of the Premiership, a product of a 27-game unbeaten start, suggests something is seriously right inside the dressing room at Highbury.

"I have a feeling that this team is really gelling together," said Bergkamp. "There are a lot of friendships that only come after a year or two. They don't come just in one season, you need to stick to together. We have been a team for some time and it really shows."

The 2-1 triumph over Charlton on Saturday was an example of the grit and spirit required to win the title. After rapidly establishing a two-goal lead, Arsenal dominated the first-half. The second, however, was much less fluent. Charlton raised the tempo, scored and, though Arsenal had ample chances to put the game beyond doubt, seriously threatened an equaliser.

The South Londoners nearly grabbed a point when Jonatan Johansson's overhead kick cannoned off the woodwork in injury time. But Arsenal held on for their 20th Premiership victory of the season and their 11th by a single goal. Bergkamp believes they deserved their good fortune.

"When you play like that and you work hard, you deserve what you get," said the 34-year-old.

"Last year we gave it away a little bit in the Premiership. We lost some silly games and drew a few as well. In the end all that counts is winning and so we are focussing on our own game.

"I just hope we won't play any different. The first-half against Charlton is exactly how we should be playing."

That nine-point gap has understandably given the media an "It's-theirs-to-lose" attitude and prompted other title-chasers to declare the lead is too great to claw back.

"We ignore that," Bergkamp replied. "The main thing now is not to slip up. You never know, it has happened twice or once to us and to Manchester United.

"There is still a long way to go and there are still some tough games to play. Mathematically we have not won it so we just have to go on and see where it takes us in all those competitions. We are a zone where we just concentrate on ourselves."