Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal can beat Chelsea

Arsene Wenger maintains his Arsenal side have the quality to beat Barclays Premier League leaders Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday - even without injured captain Cesc Fabregas and a host of first-team regulars.The 23-year-old Spain World Cup-winner continues to recover from a hamstring problem, and has been joined on the sidelines by goalkeeper Manuel Almunia as well as England Under-21 full-back Kieran Gibbs, who is ruled out of the forthcoming European Championship play-off against Romania with a calf problem. No laughing matter: Cesc Fabregas will be missing for Arsenal when they face Chelsea on SundayWith the likes of Belgium centre-half Thomas Vermaelen failing to shake off an Achilles problem suffered during the last international break and England forward Theo Walcott and Dutch striker Robin van Persie both out with ankle injuries, a trip to Chelsea is hardly what Wenger would have wanted at this time.However, boosted by the midweek Champions League victory over Partizan Belgrade in Serbia, the Gunners boss insists last week's shock home defeat by West Brom is now out of their system as he prepares to inflict a second successive league reverse on Chelsea.'I believe we have enough strength to win the game and that is what we want to do,' Wenger declared.'If we turn up with a great performance - and I am convinced we will - we will beat them. Football is down to the performance on the day.'Confident: Arsene Wenger believes his team still have enough in their locker to beat the league leadersWenger added: 'What is important is: have we the potential to beat Chelsea - I say yes. Are Chelsea a good team? I say yes, but we can beat a good team.'Almunia's continuing elbow problem means another chance for the much-maligned Lukasz Fabianski to stake his claim, having answered criticism with an impressive display in Belgrade, where he saved a late penalty in the 3-1 win.'He had a good game [in Belgrade] and can just add another good game to the first one. That's what I want him to do and I am convinced he can do that,' Wenger said.'Our job is about grabbing your chance when you have it. You must be ready the day you have your chance.'He has the talent, he has the potential, he has the desire, a great attitude, so it's all there to have a good game.'Chelsea have a couple of injury concerns of their own, with Wenger openly admitting he was pleased England midfielder Frank Lampard would not play due to a groin problem.However, the Gunners will have to face their nemesis in Didier Drogba, the Ivory Coast striker having netted 12 goals in 10 games against Arsenal. Prolific: Didier Drogba has an excellent scoring record against the GunnersNew centre-back pairing Sebastien Squillaci and Laurent Koscielny will aim to shackle the 32-year-old.'He has talent,' said Wenger, who had scouted Drogba when the forwardwas at French club Guingamp. 'He is a complete striker, which is why hehas scored goals against many teams.'We have to stop him, to be efficient against him and I am convinced we will do that on Sunday.'Should Arsenal lose at Stamford Bridge, they would be seven points adrift and potentially out of the top four should other results go against them. Wenger, though, maintains nothing will be decided on Sunday.Young Guns: Arsenal youngster Jack Wilshere (left) could win a call-up to the full England squad next week, but his club-mate Kieran Gibbs (right) has been ruled out of under 21 action'It's not too early because it is a confrontation between two top teams and it will certainly give an indication of the strengths of the two teams, that is for sure,' Wenger said.'I don't think it is a decisive game, but it is a good indicator about the strengths in the Premier League.'The Arsenal manager continued: 'It is an interesting league. Nobody is head and shoulders above the others, so it will be down to consistency, the way any team can improve from now until May.'I believe we have a good room for improvement, a good attitude, goodtalent - it is important we turn up with a good performance on Sunday, but there is still a long way to go.'While Gibbs has been ruled out, 18-year-old midfielder Jack Wilshere is set to feature for the Under-21s at Carrow Road on Friday night, and could then be called into the senior squad for the Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro next week. 'I select him for my first team, that means he is good enough because all my players are internationals,' Wenger said.'But I am convinced he will be called up for the senior national team, if it is not this time it will be next. It is only a question of time. He is playing very well.' Chelsea v ARSENAL: Cesc Fabregas among a host of injuries for Arsene WengerCHELSEA v Arsenal: Didier Drogba back from ban but Frank Lampard suffers new injuryThe Friday Five: Classic Arsenal v Chelsea clashes in recent historyARSENAL FC

Source: Daily_Mail