Mesut Ozil has urged his Arsenal team-mates to help lay down a marker for their title challenge by ending their recent struggles against Chelsea.
Arsenal have not won a league game against their London rivals since October 2011 and are without a goal in six top flight matches with the Blues dating back to early 2013.
Recent encounters between the two have been tumultuous – Arsenal lost three players to red cards in two matches last season – and Ozil admitted the spectre of recent sendings off remained on his side’s mind.
“Past games against Chelsea have been tough because we’ve received some red cards in matches that we’ve started well in, both away and at home,” Ozil said. “Those games have changed because of the reds.
Arsene Wenger's record against Chelsea managers
“But this year we want to approach it differently - hopefully we won’t get a red card this time.
“If you want to win the league, you have to win these games against big teams. We’re playing at home and want the three points.”
After a lengthy summer that saw Germany reach the semi-finals of Euro 2016 Ozil has struggled to hit the heights for Arsenal since his return to the first-team, his goal in a 3-1 win over Watford the only major contribution he has made so far this term.
But the 27-year-old insists he is on the right track and is confident there is more to come.
“Of course I know that I can still improve, that I can help the team more through goals and assists, but I’m generally quite pleased.
“In the last three league games that I’ve started, we’ve won them all. I’d like to praise the whole team for that.
“Now we’re looking forward to today’s game and are going to do everything in our power to win our fourth successive game.”
