JAY-JAY Okocha believes Wanderers have become a Premiership force to be reckoned with after proving a match for the best in the land.

But the Reebok skipper says it is far too early to make any accurate assessment of their prospects.

Okocha has played a key role as Wanderers have taken 11 points from their first six games.

And he believes - as do his team-mates - that they are capable of another top-half finish. But he refuses to speculate further than that.

Reacting cautiously to Allardyce's assessment of his squad strength, he said: "I don't want to speak so soon. I think we can only show through our results if we are really the best team that he has had in five years.

"I just think we should wait and see at the end of the season ... then we can say this is really the best squad we've had."

Wanderers have good reason to be modest in their early season claims.

Although pundits are tipping them for big things after a string of impressive performances, they had a flying start in 2001-02 - their first season back in the Premiership - when they took 12 points from their first seven games, including a draw at Arsenal.

They also won at Manchester United, but a mid-season return of five points from 11 games had them floundering by February and left them battling for survival.

Allardyce and his players appear far too experienced to let that happen again and, for all his reservations and reality checks, even Okocha has drawn encouragement from the win and two draws against three of the Premiership's leading lights.

"That can only help our season," he said after Wanderers twice came from behind at Highbury on Saturday with goals from Radhi Jaidi and Henrik Pedersen to end Arsenal's 100 per cent record.

"It's been a brilliant three matches, which a lot of people didn't expect us to get much from.

"We've turned out to be a side to reckon with now and we deserve it.

"Highbury was a very difficult place for us to go to and get something, so we were pleased to get the point."

TV tipsters and even rival managers who were once begrudging in their praise of Wanderers are now suggesting they can challenge for a UEFA Cup place.

Allardyce is not saying that, but he claims he now has the depth of squad he has sought since his arrival in October 1999, and has generated a belief among his players that they can hold their own at the top end of the table.

"We don't want to start talking too much, but we believe in ourselves," Okocha agreed.

"We know that we've done very well in the past and, if we keep working hard and improving on our advantages, we will have a good season."