Cesc Fàbregas said it was business as usual on Tuesday night as he strived to play his normal game despite assuming the Arsenal captaincy, but if the North London club are to challenge for the Barclays Premier League title, Arsenal will have to go far beyond the typical on Sunday when they travel across the capital to face Chelsea.

Arsenal have failed to win in their past six visits to Stamford Bridge in all competitions, the most recent success coming in February 2004. Their loss in West London in March — two late goals by Didier Drogba negating Bacary Sagna’s opener — all but ended their title hopes. It says much about Arsenal’s start to this campaign that the same would hold true if they lose on Sunday, even though the season has yet to reach its midway point. A win for Luiz Felipe Scolari’s team would lift them 13 points clear of Arsenal.

It would also be a sixth defeat in 15 league matches for Arsène Wenger’s side. Only three times since the Premier League reduced itself to 20 clubs in 1995-96 has a title-winning team absorbed as many as six losses in a season, and it has not happened since Manchester United finished first in 2000-01.

“We want to get back into the title race, so we have to win,” Fàbregas said after the victory over Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday at the Emirates Stadium that secured safe passage into the knockout phase of the Champions League and allowed Wenger to talk of renewed confidence after a troublesome few weeks. “Our target is to go to Chelsea and win,” Fàbregas said. “We could get some points back. The other teams have difficult games as well. We will see.

“Chelsea have been playing really well, the times I watched them, they have played good football with quick combinations. I respect them. [But] Arsenal never go anywhere for a draw. We always go to win and Chelsea do the same. At the end of the season, we will see what we can achieve but at the moment we are in every competition. People can say whatever they want about the title race but we have only played 14 games. It is not over yet.”

It took a late winner from Nicklas Bendtner to overcome a limited Kiev side and the performance was far from convincing. The absence of nine men through injury is a mitigating factor, although not the inexperience of the squad players drafted into action — that, after all, is down to the manager’s philosophy.

“After what I saw, we are back on track,” Fàbregas, the midfield player, said. “It was a win, we kept a clean sheet, we created chances, we had a lot of injuries and we responded well. That’s the most important thing.”

The brooding presence of William Gallas, the deposed captain, alongside him on Tuesday was as much a reminder to the 21-year-old of his new job as the bright yellow elastic marked “C” on his arm and the extra-loud support from the stands, but Fàbregas performed with as much focus as usual. “It was a normal game for me,” he said. “I don’t even think about [the captaincy]. I don’t realise whether I wear the armband, I just try to play.”

Fàbregas suggested that there was validity to the notion that the Champions League represents Arsenal’s most realistic route to a significant trophy. “Europe is a different game to the Premier League,” he said. “All the teams in the Premier League know they have to defend a lot. They are pressuring us all the time and it looks like all week they just train on defending.

“The Champions League is different, teams try to play a bit more, try to come out a bit more. Maybe it’s true that Europe suits us a little bit more but if you want to win something, you have to be able to play against anybody.”