Arteta Surprises Fans With Honest Take on Chelsea as He Admits Blues ‘Fully Deserve’ Their Place in Premier League Title Race
Leading up to Arsenal’s upcoming match against Chelsea, Mikel Arteta has expressed his conviction that Chelsea has the potential to compete for the Premier League title.
The Arsenal manager emphasized his respect for Enzo Maresca’s team, stating that he finds their style of play enjoyable to watch, during a press conference prior to the game.
Arsenal currently holds a significant advantage in the standings, sitting six points ahead of their London rivals as they prepare for the Stamford Bridge clash.
Arteta has consistently spoken highly of Chelsea, even considering the intense rivalry between the two clubs.
Back in March, following Arsenal’s narrow 1-0 victory at home, he remarkably described Chelsea as the league’s most potent attacking force by a considerable margin.
These previous remarks were brought up during Arteta’s recent pre-match press conference.
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The Arsenal boss stood by his earlier assessment of Chelsea, going further to suggest that they are legitimate contenders for the Premier League championship this season.
When questioned about Chelsea’s credentials as genuine contenders for the title, Arteta responded by stating that pretty much all the top teams are in the mix, and Chelsea have earned their place at the top through their consistent performance over the past few seasons.
He emphasized that the quality of their squad, the depth of their resources, and the impressive caliber of coaching they possess all contribute to their current success, and they are fully deserving of their high standing.
Regarding whether he still considers Chelsea to have the Premier League’s most potent attack, Arteta acknowledged their dominance in the previous season.
He cautioned that it’s still early in the current campaign to make definitive judgments.
However, he went on to say that Chelsea are definitely one of the most exciting and enjoyable teams to watch, praising their flowing style of play, diverse attacking threats, abundance of individual brilliance, and clear tactical vision, which makes them a formidable opponent.
The interviewer also pressed the Spanish manager for an update on the physical condition of several players within his team.
Specifically, Leandro Trossard is still being evaluated for a calf issue he picked up during the team’s victory against Bayern Munich in the Champions League earlier in the week.
The potential availability of Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz hinges on the outcome of further imaging to assess their hamstring and knee problems, respectively.
Ahead of the Chelsea clash, Arteta gave an update on the team’s fitness
When questioned about whether the aforementioned offensive players had received encouraging scan results, Arteta responded: “Completely encouraging, not at this stage, but they are progressing and improving. We feel optimistic about both of their recoveries, and that’s all I can say for now.”
The Arsenal manager also provided encouraging news regarding Gabriel Jesus’s imminent comeback to the first team squad.
The Brazilian forward recently participated in a private friendly match against Watford at Arsenal’s training complex on Thursday, marking a significant step in his recovery.
Jesus has been sidelined since January, when he underwent surgery to address a knee issue.
While Arteta expressed optimism that the 29-year-old is “on the verge” of returning to competitive play, he elaborated further.
He emphasized the importance of monitoring Jesus’s daily response to the increased physical demands being placed upon him during training.
Additionally, Arteta noted the need for Jesus to reintegrate fully into the team’s dynamic and tactics, highlighting the crucial difference between training simulations and the intensity and unpredictability of actual match situations.
He concluded by stating the club’s aim is to minimize the time it takes for Jesus to regain his match sharpness and understanding of the team’s on-field strategies.
Arsenal’s robust squad has proven to be a major asset, enabling them to navigate a recent spate of injuries without significantly impacting their performances.
Following their impressive 3-1 victory against Bayern Munich on Tuesday, Mikel Arteta praised his team’s readiness and dedication.
This victory was the highlight of a remarkable 16-match undefeated streak, which began after their narrow 1-0 loss to Liverpool back in August.
Chelsea also made a significant statement in European competition this week, delivering a commanding 3-0 victory over Barcelona at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.
Over the past few weeks, The Blues have been steadily gaining momentum, displaying strong form with eight goals scored and only one conceded in their last three matches across all competitions.
This weekend’s match feels like a pivotal moment in the championship chase. Should Chelsea perform as strongly as Arteta anticipates, it could ignite a thrilling battle involving three contenders, with Guardiola’s team potentially joining the mix.
On the other hand, if Arsenal secures victory and claims the full three points, they’ll create a substantial nine-point advantage.
Given their league-leading offensive and defensive performances, such a lead would be formidable, even with a significant portion of the season still remaining.
