Cesc praises Arsenal spirit

Fabregas: Staying positive

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Cesc Fabregas is confident that Arsenal have the mental strength to stay in the running for the Premier League title.

The Gunners' lead at the top of the table has been cut from five points to just one after successive draws against Birmingham and Aston Villa.

But Fabregas was encouraged by the way Arsenal battled back from falling behind to Villa on Saturday, eventually rescuing a point deep into stoppage time through Nicklas Bendtner.

"When you are so young and if you do not have this spirit, it is very difficult to do something," declared the midfielder.

"If a team is weak mentally, you do not come back from these games - because these are matches when everything is against you, maybe it is not the best game of your life, but still you come back and get the points. That means something.

"We have to be strong and at least we have come back fighting until the end.

Important

"This is the most important sign. We are still at the top, we have to be strong. We have to try to be there until the end."

Critics have suggested that Arsenal's lack of experience may prove costly over the final few weeks of the season, but Fabregas insists there is plenty of optimism in the Emirates Stadium dressing room.

"I don't think there is any reason to be down," said the Spaniard.

"Four weeks ago, we were two points behind Man United, then we were five points in front, now we are one point but still at the top. I don't think that is bad.

"Chelsea have 25 international players, Man United won the league last season, they have a great team.

"We are young and we are there, so we have to look at the positives, not the negatives."