FRANCIS COQUELIN is confident he can show his potential as Arsenal's long-term midfield enforcer when he goes head to head with "unbelievable" Nemanja Matic in Sunday's Barclays Premier League showdown with Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners tackle the leaders aiming to eat into their 10-point advantage at the top of the table following last weekend's 1-0 victory over third-placed Manchester United.

Coquelin was drafted back into the Arsenal squad from a loan spell at Charlton in December, since when the 23-year-old has gone on to cement his place in shielding the back four, and has been instrumental during a run of 21 victories from the last 25 matches.

The Frenchman, though, knows he will be up against one of the best defensive midfielders around when Serbian Matic aims to close out another triumph for Jose Mourinho's men.

"What he has done is unbelievable. At Chelsea he is one of the main men, so credit to him. He has had a great season and is a great player. It is always good to play against players like that," Coquelin said on Arsenal Player.

"It is an important position and Matic has shown how important he is - that is what I am trying to do as well for Arsenal.

"The fans want a good defensive midfielder - they know it is important for the team."

Arsenal will be out to beat Chelsea for the first time since October 2011, when Robin van Persie netted a hat-trick in a remarkable 5-3 victory at Stamford Bridge.

Wenger, though, has every confidence his side can again answer another stern examination.

"From a good run of form you get a good belief and we have a good solidarity," he said.

"We know that we have passed many tests recently where we were questioned. This season is the first time we have won away from home against Manchester City [in a while].

"So we have passed many tests and we have another on Sunday that we want to pass."

Wenger added: "Chelsea have been very, very efficient on counter-attacks, very efficient on set-pieces as well, so to nullify their strengths will be important."

Arsenal, meanwhile, are only three signings away from winning the title and should start by pinching Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, according to former Gunners midfielder Ray Parlour.

Cech is likely to be watching from the substitutes bench when Arsenal face Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, having made only four league starts this season.

Jose Mourinho's men are 10 points clear going into the game this weekend but Parlour believes signing Cech in the summer can help Arsenal overcome the Blues next year.

"Cech would definitely be on my radar if I was Arsene Wenger," said Parlour, who was speaking at the Boot Camp stage of The People's Pundit, championed by Carlsberg - the Official Beer of the England team and the Premier League.

"Cech has got that experience, he's played in big games and he's only 33 so he's got plenty of years left in him.

"Wojciech Szczesny wants to play on a regular basis and you could still get good money for him, someone will buy him for around £6million.

"So it's a no-brainer really. If you can get Cech for around £10m and sell Szcezsny for £6m, it's a great deal for Arsenal.

"The question is will Chelsea sell to a rival? I'm not sure they will."

Arsenal can make it nine consecutive league victories with a win on Sunday and the team's strong finish to the campaign has given Gunners fans hope for a more sustained title challenge next year.

"The summer window will be very important to what happens next season," Parlour said.

"The spine of the team needs strengthening - I think they need a centre half, a central midfielder and a goalkeeper.

"Alexis Sanchez has had a brilliant season, he's set the bar so high so early in his career that when he dropped off, it seemed like it wasn't the Sanchez we know.

"He has been amazing this season. If Arsene Wenger can get two or three players of his calibre this summer, there's no reason why Arsenal can't win the league next year."

Wenger has not come out on top against Mourinho in 12 attempts and a win this weekend would be particularly welcome for the Frenchman as Arsenal look to cement second place.

Chelsea ground out a 1-0 victory against Manchester United last time out and Parlour expects the league leaders to be resolute again on Sunday.

"A draw is a perfect result for Chelsea," Parlour said.

"They'll look to defend well and put in a solid performance so it's up to Arsenal to ask questions.

"With the pace they've got, Arsenal can test Chelsea's back four.

"John Terry has been brilliant this year but he does sit off a bit deeper now to allow for his lack of pace and that might give more space in midfield.

"Arsene will look at getting Sanchez into those spaces and perhaps Theo Walcott will start as well.

"It's a big, big game for Arsenal. Chelsea will win the league but there's still a battle for second, third and fourth so it's a bigger game for Arsenal than it is for Chelsea."