Marco Silva has insisted he is still only targeting Premier League survival despite the club closing in on a best-ever start to a top-flight campaign.

The Hornets' last-gasp win over Arsenal on Saturday, and their first home victory of the campaign, took them up to fourth in the division with eight games gone, and already almost half-way to last season's entire points tally.

Only in 1982/83, when Graham Taylor's legendary side picked up 16 points from their first eight, have the club enjoyed a better start to a Premier League or Division One season.

Few expect the Hornets to enter the qualifying draw for next year's Champions League - or the group stage, for that matter - but the prospect of a top-10 finish is already looking a more realistic prospect for the first time in 30 years.

In true Claudio Ranieri style, though, head coach Silva is still waiting to tick off fourth bottom as a first target before he lets himself dream of anything more.

He said: "I knew before the match what our goal is. It’s impossible [to stay fourth]. Our goal is to remain in the Premier League.

"I believe we can better last season’s position, but the first goal is to stay up. It’s too early to change what I would like.

"The club has the feet on the floor, it’s a good moment and we’re happy but it changes nothing."