Chelsea clash is vital - Wenger

Arsene Wenger believes Monday night's Barclays Premier League clash with Chelsea will play a critical role in defining Arsenal's season.

The Gunners have already endured defeats at Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford this term and Wenger insists their response to those setbacks will be key to their title aspirations. They enter Monday's showdown at Emirates Stadium on the receiving end of five successive defeats in the fixture, leaking 13 goals in the process.

"Of course this is a must-win game," the Frenchman said.

"We have mixed feelings because we came out of both games against Chelsea and Man United this season thinking we could have won and that there wasn't a difference between the teams.

"We have a good opportunity to show that in the coming months and that our improvement is bigger than any other team because we are a very young side.

"It's about how well we respond to what happened to us at Chelsea and Man United that will be the decider for our season.

"We have played Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool away so our home form in these kind of games will be decisive.

"We are confident over taking Chelsea on at home. We face a big challenge. What we want is to produce an intelligent game full of dynamism. That is the only way we can win these big games."