Arsenal travel across London to play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon in a top-of-the-table clash in the Premier League which carries huge significance
Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta is not underestimating Chelsea in the title race
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Chelsea host Arsenal in a top-of-the-table Premier League clash on Sunday afternoon, but the two managers cannot agree on the title race situation. Arsenal are in pole position ahead of the trip across London, sitting six points clear of their hosts, meaning a commanding nine-point gap would be established with a win.
The Gunners have not won the title since 2003/04 and are determined to go one better than their three successive second-place finishes. Defending champions Liverpool have fallen away already, sitting 12th after losing six of their last seven in the league, while Manchester City are in third, a point worse off than Chelsea.
Arteta is under no illusions that Chelsea will provide a tough test on Sunday. The Blues are coming into the match on the back of a thumping 3-0 win over Barcelona and an impressive three-match winning run in the league without conceding.
“Well, I think we are all there and they are there because they fully deserve to be,” Arteta said when asked about Chelsea's title credentials in his pre-match press conference on Friday.
“What they have done in the last few years, I think the squad that they assembled, the numbers that they have, the quality that they have, the number of coaches they have, it makes sense that what is happening there is very, very positive and they deserve to be there.
“One of the teams that I enjoy the most watching and they have a lot of fluidity, they have a lot of threat, they have a lot of individual talent, they are very clear what they want to do and that’s why they are very tough.
“Obviously it’s a big game, it’s a big London derby. We’re going to play a really, really good opponent. They are in really good form and we know the challenge, we know the opportunity that we have as well on Sunday, so we are fully ready for it.”
Enzo Maresca reacts
Enzo Maresca has consistently played down Chelsea's title credentials
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Maresca, meanwhile, has constantly been batting away such tags from his side. He did so last season - and was proven right as they finished fourth - and is not changing tack this time around.
"I think it's too early in any case," he said. "If we win, if we don't win, I think it's too early. We are still, end of November, we are still five, six months to go. I think it's very important when we're going to be in February, March, where we are, and from there we decide and we see if we can achieve something important."
Asked if there were differences between his team last season, which fell away, and the current crop, he replied: "I think for sure it's different compared to one year ago. It's because we spent one more year together.
"We went through moments where we can learn from that moment. Then again, for me it's very early. We are still at the end of November, December. So it's very early and it's important to be where we are now in March, April and then we'll see."
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