Preview:Arsenal host Blackburn tonight looking to maintain the pressure on Manchester United and Chelsea as the championship race looks set to head towards an exciting conclusion.
Arsenal v Blackburn Rovers Venue: Emirates Stadium Kick-off: Tonight, 8.0 On TV: Setanta Sports 1
Wenger knows his young squad - led by the experience of captain William Gallas - have come a long way in the past season, now emerging as a force again having been some way off the pace since their last title challenge back in 2004/2005.
Combative midfielder Fabregas (20) is a case in point - the Spaniard started the campaign in blistering form with seven goals from nine games and had developed a fierce partnership alongside Mathieu Flamini at the heart of the team.
Wenger believes Fabregas has been through a steep learning curve, with his football now attracting the headlines rather than his sometimes overly tenacious approach.
During the fifth-round FA Cup tie against Rovers at Emirates Stadium in February last year, Fabregas was involved in a heated exchange with Mark Hughes.
The fiery young Spaniard later apologised to the Blackburn manager, having asked the former Wales striker "did you really play for Barcelona? Because that was not Barcelona football" in a jibe at Rovers' perceived negative tactics.
Wenger, though, firmly believes those type of incidents are now firmly behind the former Camp Nou trainee. The Arsenal boss reflected: "They are all more mature now. Cesc is committed and you always like your players to have a winning attitude.
"Sometimes it can go a little bit over the top, but Cesc has behaved remarkably well this season - I cannot remember one incident.
"There was maybe a stage, for about six months, where he went a bit the wrong way - but he corrected that very well, without any special management from me.
"If I feel that the players aren't managing to do it themselves then I will help them to do it. But in his case, there was no need. He apologised and from then on there have been no problems with him. He is so intelligent he realised that is not the way he wanted to go."
In Blackburn midfielder David Bentley, Wenger will come up against one of his promising youngsters whom he let go. The 23-year-old midfielder, who left Arsenal in August 2005, has gone on to win full international recognition, making it into Fabio Capello's starting XI for the opening match of his England reign against Switzerland.
Former Arsenal players Matthew Upson and Ashley Cole were also in the team at Wembley last week - a fact which gave Wenger a sense of pride. "We do not get much credit for it (England), but I am pleased that they have made a great career," said the Arsenal manager, often criticised for a lack of Englishmen in his first team.
"That is the most important thing - that they make a great career. Where they play is not so important." Wenger added: "You can ask, whether David would be where he is at the moment without Arsenal? Like Upson, at the time he left there were big players in front of them and I could not see how, at their age, they could get in front of them.
"I let them go and I am actually quite happy because I know we contributed to their education and development."
The French coach also revealed he often considers inserting "buy-back'" clauses, but so far has resisted implementing any.
He said: "Sometimes I try and put a buy-back clause in the deals when I know they will be players - but sometimes that it is a bit unfair on them because after letting them go you should give them the chance to go where they want to go."
