Arsenal vs. Middlesbrough: Arsene Wenger's Key Pre-Match Press Conference Quotes

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger called on his players to keep their vigilance and humility in order to survive the "jungle" of Premier League competition and maintain their form ahead of Saturday's home clash with Middlesbrough. 

Arsenal are tied on points with Premier League leaders Manchester City and just one behind the Sky Blues on goal difference, so a win or a draw against Boro could see the Gunners move top of the table.

They have won seven matches on the bounce in all competitions and not lost since the opening day of the season, but Wenger outlined the importance of taking every match as it comes, per Arsenal:

Last time out in the Premier League, Arsenal beat Swansea City at home for the first time since 2013, but they saw Granit Xhaka red-carded and were hanging on at the end to claim their 3-2 win.

A midweek 6-0 drubbing of Ludogorets Razgrad in the UEFA Champions League will have given the Gunners a big boost, but Wenger revealed they could be without key midfielder Santi Cazorla as well as the suspended Xhaka, per ESPN FC's Ben Dinnery:

Aitor Karanka's Middlesbrough side are on a miserable run of form having not won a match since August, so Arsenal will be heavy favourites to pick up all three points in north London.

Key man Mesut Ozil will be eager to get on the scoresheet again following his hat-trick against Ludogorets.

The German has been the subject of much speculation recently as he has still not signed a new contract with Arsenal, but Wenger insisted he is at the right club, per the Mirror's Joe Mewis: "We are in touch and that is our desire [to extend Ozil and Aleixs Sanchez's contracts]. Ozil is 28 and is in the prime of his career. We want him to contribute to the club’s future. I believe he is in the right place."

As well as Cazorla and Xhaka, Wenger has a number of other absentees in his squad, but he revealed that Aaron Ramsey could finally make a return to action against Sunderland on Oct. 29, per Arsenal:

He still has more than enough quality to call upon to beat Boro, though, and Wenger's preferred front four of Sanchez, Ozil, Alex Iwobi and Theo Walcott are likely to start on Saturday. 

Given their current form, it would be a huge shock were Arsenal to lose at home, but Wenger is all too aware of the dangers of complacency and will insist his players give another fine performance against Middlesbrough.