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Ox - We want to make a statement

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain says the Arsenal squad are determined to "make a statement" when they face Chelsea on Sunday.

Arsene Wenger's side were beaten 6-0 in his 1,000th game as manager of the club at Stamford Bridge in March.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has dark memories of the match and is targeting an altogether better experience this weekend.

"They are big competition to us so we'll be looking to go there and make a statement early on in the season"

"It was a horrendous day," he told Arsenal Player. "You would like to say it was one that you forget and don't remember, but I'm sure it's one that I'm going to remember for the rest of my life.

"It was funny because I was always saying that I'd never played at Stamford Bridge. I'd been waiting a few years to play there. It definitely didn't pan out the way I would have liked it to.

"It's a great stadium and it's another great fixture. It's one that we'll really be looking forward to. Chelsea are the league leaders at the moment and one of the favourites to win the title this season.

"They are big competition to us so we'll be looking to go there and make a statement early on in the season. I definitely believe we can."

Kieran Gibbs was mistakenly sent off by Andre Marriner at Stamford Bridge last season after Oxlade-Chamberlain had handled on the line. The Arsenal pair nominated the referee to take the Ice Bucket Challenge recently.

"Yeah he did it, fair play to him!" added Oxlade-Chamberlain.

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