While Arsenal have been on a steady course towards title contention for the past three seasons under Mikel Arteta, Chelsea have been chaotic with coaching changes and frantic shopping rounds in the transfer market. On Sunday, the city rivals meet, usually we hear sharp comments from the two coaches, Mikel Arteta shows another side: Respect.
Liverpool have hooked the other club from the title race in the Premier League, but Chelsea are well in the fight for second place. Six points behind Arsenal, Sunday’s game will mean a lot. The Arsenal manager now says that before the season he saw Chelsea with Maresca at the helm as a strong title contender.
“When I saw Chelsea play in pre-season and knew how Enzo Maresca works and the qualities they have in the squad, in my eyes they were favourites to win everything. The moment everything falls into place and they find that connection, energy and stability, I think they can compete with any team,” Mikel Arteta said, according to the BBC.
Mikel Arteta, of course, hopes this “connection” doesn’t fall into place on Sunday.