Olivier Giroud is refusing to get carried away with Premier League title talk despite Arsenal’s strong recent run.

The French ace came off the substitutes bench on Saturday to net a brace in the 4-1 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light – the win was Arsenal’s seventh in eight league games and they remain unbeaten since the opening weekend of the season.

Sitting alongside Manchester City and Liverpool on top of the pile is nice, admits Giroud, but he knows there is a long road ahead before thoughts can turn to winning a first title for the north London club since 2004.

“We’ve only played a quarter of the league,” Giroud told Arsenal’s official website. “It’s still the beginning of the league and I’m not the man who will speak too much because we are first.”

Giroud’s cameo at Sunderland was his first appearance in a month after a toe problem kept him out of action.

While he is eager to play down title talk, the 30-year-old made clear what Arsenal’s intentions are this season and what they must do to achieve them.

“We enjoy this position, obviously we want to finish first and win the league, but we know there is a long time to go. We’re in a good moment and we need to keep it up and be consistent,” he added.

Arsenal face a mouth-watering local skirmish next weekend when Spurs come to the Emirates.

Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham will start the North London derby three points adrift of their hosts, but they are the only side in the top-flight without a defeat this season.

Arsenal are 2.05 to win at the Emirates on Sunday. Spurs are 2.50 with the draw available at 2.50.