Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal will state Premier League title credentials against Leicester after victory over Bournemouth

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Arsene Wenger has no doubt that his team have the 'quality' and 'nerve' to go the distance in this title race after stopping their form rot in Bournemouth.

Arsenal won for the first time in five Premier League games to set the scene for a crucial fixture against leaders Leicester, at the Emirates Stadium, on Sunday.

'We have been in the title race and we are still in it,' said Wenger. 'I agree Leicester now is the favourite. In one week they have beaten Liverpool and Manchester City.

Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal will go the distance in the Premier League title race this season

Mesut Ozil gave Arsenal the lead in the first half against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium

Arsenal wide-man Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain leads the celebrations after giving the visitors a 2-0 lead 

'That makes our game on Sunday a very big one. We just have to control our performances and show that we believe, and that we have the level to do it. There's still a long way to go.

'We have a big game at home and we have enough quality and nerve to deal with that.'

Mesut Ozil and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were on target as Arsenal scored twice in two first-half minutes to clinch a 2-0 win at Bournemouth.

'It was an important result for two reasons,' said Wenger. 'One, we haven't won for a while. When you play at the top, four games without a win is a long period and confidence drops. And Leicester is running away. We had to win. We won.'

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe thought the outcome might have been different if Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini had been sent off for a two-footed tackle on Dan Gosling in the eighth minute, when it was 0-0.

'I felt it was a red card,' said Howe. 'I had a very good view and I felt it was two-footed. That type of tackle has been outlawed, you can't do it.

'For me it was a pretty simple decision. It was a straight red card and it would have had a huge bearing on the game. I was surprised when the ref only produced the yellow.

'Dan could have been seriously injured on another occasion. That's why it should have been a straight red. It didn't look like he was in control.'

Flamini, who was shown a yellow card, said he was 'focused on the ball' and 'took the ball'. Gosling was unhurt, but it was the kind of tackle that would normally incense Wenger were it committed on one of his players.

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe believes Matheiu Flamini should have seen a red card for this challenge

Referee Kevin Friend brandishes the yellow card in the direction of Flamini after the tackle

But Wenger disagreed and did not believe that midfielder Flamini deserved to see a red for the challenge

On this occasion, however, the Arsenal manager did not think it deserved a red card.

'I didn't see it like that,' said Wenger. 'Honestly I felt, even at the start, it was a free-kick for us. Flamini was first on the ball. I didn't see how high his feet were. He was first on the ball, I don't think he even needed to tackle.

'It was maybe both; a foul from Flamini because he had high feet. I don't know. I still feel the fact he was first on the ball, went for the ball, didn't go for the player, it would have been harsh.'