We've learned lessons - Wenger

Arsene Wenger has challenged his young Arsenal squad not to make the same mistakes as they did in a crushing defeat to Manchester United by failing to "turn up" at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal could blow the title race wide open with victory over Chelsea, which would move them within three points of Carlo Ancelotti's side. However, by the same token, suffer another loss and the Gunners' championship ambitions will look to be all but over once again.

Wenger's team came up short in every department against United last weekend, when the champions romped to a 3-1 win at Emirates Stadium, but the French coach, however, insists: "I am convinced that we are capable to win everywhere in the world, but of course we need to turn up with a good performance."

He added: "The biggest regret I have from against Manchester United is that we gave them too much freedom and allowed them to play too much in a game where we should have been dictating," Wenger said.

"My team wanted it so much that sometimes you can be a little bit restricted and our target is to get that freedom to play against Chelsea."

"I believe we should be more relaxed at this time because at the start of the season nobody expected us in the top four or in the title race," Wenger added.

"Now, instead of being intimidated, I believe we have to really have a go because we are entitled to have it."

Wenger admitted he shared supporters' frustrations Arsenal had been unable to bring in any fresh talent during the transfer window.

"If you look really well at the European market during January this year, very little happened. There was no big transfer," said Wenger, who revealed they had come close to completing a deal for an unnamed player ahead of the deadline.

"That means it is impossible to find the players who walk in the street, can play at the top level and are available. You do not find that in January."