Cesc Fabregas maintains the critics who wrote off Arsenal's Barclays Premier League title challenge before a ball had even been kicked "fired us up" for the campaign.

The Gunners will look to put a terrible week behind them when top-six hopefuls Aston Villa come to Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

While thoughts of the whole squad are with injured striker Eduardo, set to be out for the best part of a year following his fractured leg and dislocated ankle, focus is centred on ensuring a season which has promised so much ends on a high.

Despite the disappointment of their last-gasp draw at Birmingham, Arsenal are nevertheless three points clear of Manchester United at the top of the table, while their Champions League ambitions are not yet finished as the tie against AC Milan remains delicately poised following a goalless first leg.

Having so much left to play for at this stage of the campaign is in marked contrast to how many pundits had predicted life would pan out for Arsene Wenger's young Gunners in the wake of last summer's departure of talisman captain Thierry Henry to Barcelona.

Fabregas, though, believes the squad used those negative vibes to their own advantage.

Speaking to the March issue of the Official Arsenal Magazine, in an interview conducted ahead of last weekend's game, the Spaniard recalled: "It is true that people were taking us out of the top four at the start of the season, even placing us in the middle of the table.

"I don't think it added pressure, in fact it probably helped us more because we wanted to everyone what we could do. It fired us up."

Fabregas continued: "We knew we had the quality, we know what we can do. The important thing is always not what others believe, but what you yourself believe.

"If we don't do well then people can say what they want - but if we do well, then that will be for everyone inside for the club and for the fans. That is who we are playing for, no-one else.

"You want to win all the time and last season it was difficult. Each morning when you wake up and go to training, if you are in third or fourth position, it is not the same.

"Now every morning when we come into training you feel ready to fight for the title, to take on the big teams, the big players, and that is why I really love being a footballer. For these moments."

Fabregas believes the Gunners can draw strength from their position ahead of the chasing pack, but warned they "would be stupid" to believe the title was already in the bag.

"We should take inspiration from being top. We have to try to keep the gap, and keep playing in the same way," he said.

"We are not thinking it's all over, we would be very stupid to do that. We have to keep working hard and keep believing we can do it.

"If we can win it it would be amazing considering the age of the team - it would be unbelievable.

"For me to win the league at 20 years old, playing every game, that would be something unforgettable."

Wenger must now look to another regular strike partner for leading marksman Emmanuel Adebayor, with young Dane Nicklas Bendtner having come off the bench at St Andrews.

Arsenal could see their attacking options boosted next month by the return to fitness of Dutch forward Robin van Persie.

However, the Arsenal manager indicated he would not rush van Persie - who has endured an injury-plagued campaign - back into action too soon, although he could be included for next week's trip to Milan is all goes well with his rehabilitation.

Another player hoping to make his return at the San Siro is defender Kolo Toure.

Only just back from the African Nations Cup, the centre-half suffered a calf injury during the first leg against the Italians at Emirates Stadium on February 20.

He said: "I could be a bit short for Saturday against Aston Villa, however against Milan, fingers crossed, I will be fine."

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