Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has expressed his admiration for Chelsea’s squad and believes they have the potential to compete with any team. Despite their current struggles, Arteta thinks Chelsea can still find consistency and become contenders.
The two teams are set to face each other on Sunday at Emirates Stadium, with Arsenal currently second in the Premier League table and Chelsea six points behind in fourth. While the prospect of catching leaders Liverpool seems remote, the realistic aim for both teams now is to secure their place in next season’s Champions League.
Arteta praised Chelsea’s talent and manager Enzo Maresca, saying, “From the moment I watched them play in pre-season, understanding how Enzo works and the talent they have in the squad, they were contenders to even win it from the beginning.” He added, “They have so much there. The moment that everything lies together and they find that connection, energy and consistency, I think they can compete with any team.”
Chelsea had a brief surge in December, moving within two points of top spot after a five-game winning run. However, they have since managed only four victories in 12 games, exposing frailties, particularly in defense.
Despite criticism from their own supporters, Arteta has backed Maresca to get it right, saying, “He’s a magnificent coach. He’s very clear what he wants to do, he’s been very clear what he wants and how he does it. I really like the way his team plays.”