The Blues have not lost to Arsenal in our previous eight league meetings and are now unbeaten in seven outings overall since defeat at Leicester in mid-December.

Although Willian missed the 2-0 victory over Arsene Wenger’s team in September due to injury, he has been involved in this London derby on several other occasions, and is looking forward to another big match.

‘We know we have improved in the last few games and we have played much better,’ the Brazilian tells the official Chelsea website.

‘Against Arsenal it will always be a difficult game but now we have to go there with the same mentality and go there to win the game.’

‘I think so,’ he agrees on the suggestion a good result at the Emirates could have a major impact on the rest of our season.

‘We know in the Premier League it is difficult to win and the game is away, but we have to go there together. Arsenal have a great team, we know that, but we know we can do it and bring back three points to Stamford Bridge.’

The Blues have averaged two goals scored per game over the past six outings with Willian’s thunderous strike at Crystal Palace is among the pick. His success from free-kicks this season is a factor in such goals.

‘From this I now have more confidence to score, I have more confidence to shoot and I want to continue to score more goals,’ the 27-year-old explains.

‘Now the team scores more goals and all of us up front, we have ambition to score. We go inside the box so we have to continue in the same way.’

And that, on Sunday, would mean firing the ball past the familiar figure of Petr Cech.

‘I’ll try if I have a chance against Petr, I sometimes scored against him in training,’ smiles Willian.

‘Of course we know he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world but if I have a chance I will try to score.’