Aaron Ramsey says Arsenal need to keep their foot firmly on the gas as they adapt to the pressure of being Premier League front-runners.

The Gunners’ 4-1 victory over Norwich increased their lead at the top of the table to two points over Chelsea and Liverpool, with Manchester City and Tottenham each a further point behind.

The fact that champions Manchester United trail Arsene Wenger’s side by a colossal eight points at this stage is almost the stuff of dreams – and a welcome reversal of the established pattern in recent years.

Arsenal’s lofty position casts them in an unfamiliar role as target for the main title challengers and the free-scoring Ramsey, whose form has been a key factor in his side’s rise to the top, knows there can be no let-up.

“One of the biggest things is that we’ve improved at the start of the season,” said the Wales international. “In the last few years we’ve struggled and we’ve always had to play catch-up.

“Now we’ve started very strongly and we’re top of the league. Hopefully we can continue to build on that and we know that we’re strong after Christmas.

“There’s an opportunity in every game to pick up points and we’re just concentrating on our own games. Other teams are going to take points off each other and it’s important to keep focused on our own game.

“The only way you can do that is to make sure you give everything in every game and not hold back and think ‘this is going to be easy today’. No games in this league are going to be easy.”

The 22-year-old midfielder continued his incredible run of scoring form against Norwich, netting for the ninth time this season with a classy finish to restore the Gunners’ two-goal advantage.

Ramsey’s strike and the two that sandwiched it, from Mesut Ozil, were both top quality – but the pick of the bunch was Jack Wilshere’s opener to finish off a dazzling example of one-touch football.

That put Wilshere’s name on the scoresheet for the second successive match and Ramsey added: “It was a great finish, first time and on his right foot as well.

“It’s good for Jack – he’ll be the first to say he needs to improve on his goalscoring, but he’s done fantastic. He’s got two in two and hopefully he can go on a bit of a run now.

“That’s our philosophy, to get the ball down and play football, play one and two touch, and some of the goals out there were quite breathtaking.

“Confidence is massive in football – if you’re not confident then your game struggles.

“At the moment I’m feeling very confident and very composed in front of goal, and I’m taking my chances.”