New Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas says the team is strong enough to lift themselves from their current form crisis.

The Spanish midfield maestro promised: "We are strong enough to get through these difficult times.

"We have shown we can come back from problems before - and we can do it again."

He added: "Right now is not the best moment for Arsenal and we have to admit that, because everybody knows some of the results have not been good.

"But people can see we have quality players and that we have a lot of good youngsters coming through.

"We want to show just how good we are.

"We have to prove that all the criticism we have had is not justified - that we are together and that we are one of the best teams in the country and in Europe."

Fabregas, the second-youngest Arsenal skipper after Tony Adams, will lead the Gunners in tonight's Champions League Group G clash against Ukrainian side Dynamo Kiev at The Emirates.

He added: "It is a real honour for me to be captain of one of the biggest clubs in the world and I feel very proud. I will give it my best and try to take the team forward.

"I don't think it matters about my age. I have a lot of experience in terms of the amount of football I've played for Arsenal and I know all my team-mates very well.

"But I realise that being captain is a big responsibility.

"I've talked with the manager about the job and he was very positive about me.

"I don't want to go into everything that was said because that is between us but I know I have his confidence."