Mikel Merino scored the only goal of the game – a looping header in the 20th minute from a corner – as the Gunners reclaimed their "set-piece kings" crown.
Arteta said: “Very happy, obviously, with the result, with big parts of that performance. I love the attitude of the team from the beginning. The way we approached it, how aggressive we were with our goal, scored a goal.
“A lot of chances that we didn't put away, and then we continued to do a lot of the things defensively so well and the right to attack open spaces and so many situations with huge advantages that we just gave away.
“Then we have to track back 70 metres, and on that phase probably we’ve beaten one of the best teams in the world today because we were unbelievable the way we’ve done it.”
Despite holding Chelsea to very little attacking threat, the Arsenal boss added: “We have conceded almost nothing apart from that strange save from David (Raya), I would say, and that’s a big credit to the team because, in my opinion, they (Chelsea) are the best attacking team in the league.”
As Arsenal await the return of Bukayo Saka from injury, Merino stepped up against Chelsea to grab his fifth goal of the season, easing some of the concerns surrounding the Gunners’ forward options.
“We worked on something similar with that finish. To be fair, it was a different kind of finish planned, but very happy because that would generate the belief in the team again,” added Arteta.
“Even in the stadium, the crowd (believed) that we can score because it’s something we’re missing, obviously, when we’re so prolific on that, and with the amount of injuries we have to deal with in the front line, so very happy with that.”
The Arsenal manager was asked about his claim suggesting Chelsea were producing the best attacking numbers in the league, to which he responded: “Yeah, in open play, yes.
“By a mile, I mean the stats say it, and everything that I’ve seen say it. They can open you up; they can run in transition; they have individual quality; any player in the defensive line can throw you in behind; they can combine on both sides and on weak sides; and they are missing some big players as well at the moment.”
And Arteta was blunt on the prospect of Arsenal catching Liverpool, given Arne Slot’s side currently boast a 12-point lead.
"We have to win our matches; that’s what it has to be. Win against Fulham and we’ll be closer,” he said.
With an international break imminent, Arsenal host Fulham on Tuesday April 1, before travelling to Merseyside to face David Moyes’ revitalised Everton on Saturday, April 5.