Thierry Henry is not yet sold on Arsenal's form despite their rise up the table, insisting he wants to see a statement result.
The Gunners have recovered well from a poor start to the season and could go into the top four with a win at Manchester United on Thursday night.
Mikel Arteta's summer signings have begun to settle in and recently helped the side go on a lengthy unbeaten run which included wins over the likes of Leicester City, Newcastle and Norwich City.
They were bought back down to earth with a 4-0 mauling at Liverpool last month, which served to highlight the gulf between them and the Premier League's elite.
Arsenal's results have by no means wowed their all-time top goalscorer, who would've expected them to beat many of their opponents.
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He remains concerned however by the manner in which they lose games against the top sides.
Henry told Prime Video : "It showed we can beat Newcastle at home. We can beat Burnley, we can beat Aston Villa before Steven Gerrard arrived. We can beat Leicester with 27% possession.
"I think personally winning against those teams – and I’m not having a go – but I expect it from Arsenal when they play one game a week.
"Now the improvement is can you beat the teams at the top? That’s the improvement I want to see and am waiting to see tomorrow at Old Trafford.
"Every time they play a team they should lose against they not only lose but they get smashed.
"The improvement I want to see is can they get top-four?"
Arsenal's last defeat before their Liverpool battering was a similarly one-sided scoreline at Manchester City, who beat them 5-0.
Chelsea also outclassed the north Londoners at the Emirates, winning 2-0 early in the season.
United are not currently in the top four following a poor run of results, but Henry thinks three points at Old Trafford will make people take note.
He added: "I’m an Arsenal fan and I think Mikel Arteta is doing well, but I want to see that improvement. Manchester United are not in the top-four but it can be a statement to go there and win and win well.
"We’re talking about Arsenal. I’m not over the moon by a Newcastle win, I want to see them win at Old Trafford tomorrow."
Premier League wins at Old Trafford have been something of a rarity for the Gunners, but they did secure a 1-0 success there last term courtesy of a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang penalty
