Arsene Wenger will enjoy a glass of fine wine on his birthday on Monday and reflect on Arsenal's impressive start to the new campaign.
But the Frenchman maintains the best present he could receive will be for that improvement to continue.
The Gunners chalked up an 11th straight win in all competitions when they saw off the resolute challenge of managerless Bolton 2-0 at Emirates Stadium on Saturday to keep themselves ahead of Manchester United at the top of the Barclays Premier League.
Wenger's emerging side continue their European campaign with the visit of Slavia Prague on Tuesday night, before two key domestic fixtures away to Liverpool and against United at home.
Many feel those games will prove a yardstick by which to measure Arsenal's hopes of mounting a sustained push for the league title, which they last won in 2004.
Wenger's hunger for more success certainly shows little sign of abating as he turns 58.
When asked what gift he would expect from his squad, Wenger quipped: "For them to play better on Tuesday than they did against Bolton!
"I just want people to be happy and it's important to keep the spirit that we have at the moment.
"As a manager, there is nothing better to think that you have contributed to the happiness of people.
"I don't want them to stay as they are - I want them to improve - but I want them to keep that attitude."
Wenger, though, will not be cracking open the champagne just yet.
"It's a day like every other day," the Arsenal manager insisted when quizzed further on his intended birthday celebrations.
"I already have many socks, so I don't need them.
"Maybe I will have a glass of wine at home, but that is it. I was never a great one for celebrating birthdays.
"I will watch Newcastle against Tottenham, have a quiet night and prepare for the next day's game."
Wenger believes the manner of the victory over Bolton shows his side can no longer be "bullied" into submission.
Arsenal were frustrated for long spells of the match by the no-nonsense approach of the visitors, currently led by coach Archie Knox as they search for a successor to Sammy Lee.
However, following the introduction of substitutes Theo Walcott and Tomas Rosicky just after the hour, the game finally turned in favour of the hosts.
Kolo Toure drove in a low 25-yard strike following a free-kick, before England under-21 winger Walcott set up Rosicky for a tap in after good work down the right.
"The time when we could be bullied is certainly over," declared Wenger.
"We can respond when it happens now and on that front we are much stronger than we were.
"I feel the players, especially here where the pitch is so good, can escape the bad tackles and keep the ball moving quickly.
"We have shown that we have strength and this was another step for us.
"We know we dealt with the big games very well last season so we should be confident that we can do that again.
"When there is consistency, there is always quality. How far can we go? I don't know. But I have great belief we can go a long way."
Wenger added: "The Liverpool game will be big for us and then we have Manchester United. If we get over those two hurdles, we will be in a very good position."
Toure, meanwhile, knows beating the likes of Liverpool and United would count for little if they did not continue to see off the so-called lesser sides in the league.
"The season is really long and even if we win both of those games you might not end up as champions," the Ivory Coast defender said.
"We proved that last season - we beat them both and still were not champions.
"Last season we did really well against the big teams, but we slipped up against the teams that people expect us to beat.
"That is why this season we have to concentrate on the game in front of us, never mind it's Liverpool or Manchester United."
Toure added: "We have to keep the same focus for each game, and also hope that we get a bit lucky in games and keep winning.
"We are more mature now, we know what to expect in those games and have shown we can play against some really top players."
