Mikel Arteta will be expecting a hard game when he takes his Arsenal side to Stamford Bridge on Sunday to face Chelsea.
Enzo Maresca’s men are only six points behind the Gunners and have just beaten Barcelona in the Champions League.
Arsenal have been really dangerous from set pieces this season, so this will not be an easy match for Chelsea either.
Reece James was on the scoresheet the last time Chelsea beat Arsenal. Who scored the other goal?
Reece James scores for Chelsea vs Arsenal
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
In his pre-match press conference, Arteta spoke about the Blues in detail, explaining why he actually loves watching his rivals play.
Mikel Arteta speaks to the media during Arsenal Press Conference
Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Mikel Arteta a fan of Chelsea’s fluidity, talent and more
Arteta was asked whether Chelsea are the best attacking team in the Premier League right now.
The 43-year-old thinks it is too early to answer that question, but he enjoys watching Maresca’s team, nonetheless, because of their fluidity, strength, talent and overall identity.
Speaking to Arsenal’s official club website and reporters ahead of Sunday’s London derby, Arteta said: “The sample now, it’s a bit early in the season, so it’s difficult to say, but it’s one of the teams that I enjoy the most watching, and they have a lot of fluidity, they have a lot of strength, they have a lot of individual talent, they are very clear what they want to do, and that’s why they’re pretty tough.”
If Chelsea are not the best attacking team in England outright, they are one of the best.
According to WhoScored, the Club World Cup winners have an xG of 24.09. Only Brentford and Manchester City (both 25.29) have higher xGs after playing one more game.
Chelsea’s attackers, such as Estevao Willian, have been really threatening, hence the team’s xG.
However, Jody Morris has also praised Estevao’s work rate in the build-up to Arsenal’s trip to west London.
Enzo Maresca and Mikel Arteta embrace before Arsenal FC v Chelsea FC - Premier League
Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Mikel Arteta says Chelsea deserve to be where they are
Many are surprised to see Chelsea near Arsenal in the Premier League table, but Arteta thinks they deserve to be there and considers them title contenders.
“I think we are all there and they are there because they fully deserve to be,” he said. “What they have done in the last few years, I think the squad that have assembled, the numbers that they have, the amount of quality, the manager and the coaching staff that they have, it makes sense that what is happening there is very, very positive and they deserve to be there.”
Can Chelsea win the Premier League title this season?
Gary Neville has spoken about Chelsea’s title chances, stating that they will not win the Premier League crown this season.
It will be interesting to see what the former Manchester United defender and others say, though, if they go on to beat Arteta’s side.
With the squad and manager that they have, Chelsea winning the title does not sound impossible.