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Premier League: Arsene Wenger believes last season's 6-0 loss to Chelsea was a key turning point

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 27: Arsene Wenger, manager of Arsenal looks on before the UEFA Champions League Qualifier 2nd leg match between Arsenal and Besikt
Image: Arsene Wenger: The Frenchman admits last season's 6-0 humbling by Chelsea was a 'massive, massive disappointment'.

Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal's 6-0 thrashing by Chelsea last season was a key turning point in a campaign that ultimately ended with FA Cup glory.

The Gunners were humiliated in Wenger’s 1,000th game as manager of the club, conceding three goals inside 17 minutes and having Kieran Gibbs mistakenly sent off when Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain handled the ball on the line.

Wenger admitted the defeat was the toughest of his career but he was proud of the way his players bounced back to finish the season strongly.

"It was a massive, massive disappointment, but on the other hand I must say that afterwards we showed great strength," said Wenger.

"The way we responded until the end of the season would not have happened at many clubs. I will never forget that day, but was very proud with how we responded."

"It was the lowest point of the season. When we lost 8-2 at Old Trafford (in August 2011) we had no team on the day, with nobody at the back, so that was explainable.

"The players will want to put things right after last season and will be up for it on the day."

Tough task

Arsenal face a tough task on Sunday against a Chelsea side that looks noticeably stronger this season with the additions of Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa.

It was the lowest point of the season. When we lost 8-2 at Old Trafford (in August 2011) we had no team on the day, with nobody at the back, so that was explainable.
Wenger on 6-0 loss to Chelsea

The Gunners already sit six points behind Jose Mourinho’s league leaders after six games but Wenger is confident his side can get a positive result on Sunday.

"In life you must always think you are there to change what happened before, or you are fatalistic," said Wenger.

"A competitive guy is somebody who wants to make history and change what happened before.

"We have an opportunity to do that. What counts is the performance on the day."

Sunday’s game will mark the first time former Arsenal captain Fabregas will face his old team since he returned to the Premier League from Barcelona.

Wenger admitted he did expect the Spaniard to return to the Emirates if he ever came back to the Premier League but he did not expect that move to happen so soon.

"I don't see why he should not be happy with Arsenal or with me,” he said. “We influenced his life in a positive way, that is what we are about. The most important thing is that he is happy.

"I always understood that he could go back to Barcelona, because he is from Barcelona.

"It didn't go as well as he imagined it, certainly, because I felt that when he goes back to Barcelona he will finish his career there or come back to Arsenal.

"It was the fact that he left Barcelona much earlier than everybody expected. Why? I don't know, he can explain that much better."

Watch Arsenal take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge live on Sky Sports 1 HD, with coverage underway from 1pm on Sunday.

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