Cesc Fabregas says Chelsea have the winning mentality that Arsenal lacked

Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas says his new club's winning mentality is the central difference between them and former club Arsenal.

During eight years as a professional in north London the Gunners came off second best in three showcase finals against the Blues - in the FA Cup, League Cup and Community Shield - with Didier Drogba netting the winning goal on each occasion.

With Jose Mourinho's side top of the Premier League, Fabregas is enjoying the sweet taste of success in west London, a far cry from his days at Arsenal; whom he could have re-joined in the summer.

And speaking ahead of the League Cup semi-final second leg against Liverpool, Fabregas says the will to win at his new club Chelsea remains this term, which gave them the edge in duels with Arsenal during his first spell in English football.

"At Arsenal, we were most of the games [against Chelsea] the better team, but we were always losing," Fabregas told The Daily Telegraph. "I always said the same thing. Arsenal, Arsenal, Arsenal, Arsenal. Then one long ball or one free-kick, Drogba goal. It was always the same.

"That tells you that it's not always about the quality and the talent, it's also about how much you want it, how much you know how to play your game.

"Their game was stay compact, compact, compact, compact, take your chances. They did it very well and they had good players, so you have to respect that.

"In terms of winning titles, of course I felt that at Arsenal we could have won more than we did because we arrived to finals and semi-finals, and most of the time we were nearly there.

"Of course, there is something in your heart that regrets not having won. You need that drive. I always felt it at Chelsea from the outside. You need trophies. You see Chelsea as a team who has to win trophies. It's the same as Barcelona.

"To be successful on a daily basis, when you go to Europe and you are fighting in the last games when you want to win the Premier League, we are going to need this drive and strong mentality to be the best."