Defender Armand Traore has admitted that Arsenal need to make a statement about their title intentions against Chelsea.

Traore, who started his second League game of the season in the 1-0 defeat at Sunderland, accepts that Chelsea's eight-point lead adds to the importance of the game.

He said: "We will be closer to them if we get three points. There is a gap now and three points would be good."

Boss Arsene Wenger would prefer Traore concentrates on tomorrow's Champions League game with Standard Liege but can understand the desire to beat their London rivals after Saturday's poor showing at Sunderland.

Arsenal have already qualified for the knock-out stages and even a below-strength line-up should be capable of overcoming the Belgian side to claim top spot in their group. A win would sweep away much of the despondency that followed Darren Bent's 71st-minute winner at the Stadium of Light.

Wenger said: "It's a big setback because we know that this was a very important game that we couldn't afford to lose."

It was only the Gunners' third defeat in the League after going down at the two Manchester clubs.

Wenger added: "We were much better at City and United and were not good enough."