Cesc Fabregas has defended Arsene Wenger's decision not to sign big-name players this summer and believes Arsenal are on the brink of making history. The Gunners have lost a host of stars in recent months in Mathieu Flamini, Alexander Hleb, Gilberto and Jens Lehmann.

New signings Samir Nasri, from Marseille, and Cardiff City's Aaron Ramsey are both internationals but are in the early stages of their careers, which has led to questions as to whether Wenger should have gone for more experienced replacements.

But Fabregas is hopeful Wenger's faith in his young side will pay off.

"We sign what we need," said the 21-year-old. "Sometimes teams pay a fortune for a player with experience, who knows how to win, who at key moments can win you a game - and that's important.

"But at Arsenal there's a different policy and we have to respect that.

"The day we win something with these players, with this policy, this atmosphere and style there will be a big change - almost a revelation.

"I speak to people in the game a lot and they tell me about Ajax who in the 1970s won the European Cup with an extremely young team and changed the face of the game.

"People tell me that we are on course to do that, but we need that stepping stone of winning something, of knowing how to win."

Arsenal have not won the Premier League since 2004, but Fabregas is confident that will change soon.

"Before the Euros I didn't know how it felt to win," the Spain midfielder told FourFourTwo magazine. "But now that I have experienced it I know what it takes.

"You need to have tasted it. Look at Chelsea, they hadn't won anything in many years. They got experienced players in, won the league and that gave them experience and confidence together and others followed.

"Sometimes that is the key. Everyone said before last season that we weren't even going to finish amongst the top four and we proved them wrong. But we were halted at the gates of success and that's hard. It has to serve as a lesson this season."

With Wenger still undecided about who should be captain this season, Fabregas is willing to throw his hat into the ring.

William Gallas this week admitted he made mistakes as skipper last season, most notably in the infamous match against Birmingham when he staged a one-man demonstration on the pitch.

Gallas sat down in the centre circle for long after the final whistle clearly upset following the Blues' late equaliser. The Gunners subsequently saw their hopes of winning the Premier League drift away.

It is a situation Fabregas does not want to repeat and says he is ready to take over the armband.

He added: "Maybe that's where all our problems started. We had a month and a half after that game where our heads were not right. William is a great captain, I really respect him, and the longer he is giving us the benefit of his experience, the better.

"I've shown I can take that responsibility and if I was made captain I would give even more - I don't know where I'd get that little extra from but I'd try to find it.

"But I'm only 21. Right now I just want to win something for Arsenal."