Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has urged his squad to finish the job of securing qualification for soccer’s Champions League as they enter the critical phase of the season.

Arsenal’s fortunes have been transformed in recent weeks after seven consecutive victories in which they have turned a 10-point deficit to Tottenham into a three-point lead.

The Gunners’ remarkable run has left them in third place in the English Premier League and means automatic qualification for the Champions League is in their hands, something that looked a forlorn hope in early February.

But despite his team’s stellar run, Wenger has warned against the dangers of complacency as Arsenal prepare to travel to Loftus Road to face Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.

“This is the period where what we do matters the most, so we just want to keep our focus on this and not worry about anybody else’s results,” the Arsenal manager said on Thursday.

“We have shown both footballing and mental qualities in recent weeks and now we need to continue our development.”

The slender nature of Arsenal’s lead over Tottenham meant there was little margin for error, Wenger said.

“We are now at the stage of the season where every day in the Premier League seems to have turning points,” he said.

“What is most important from now onwards is our consistency and momentum.”