Mikel Arteta makes surprise Premier League title 'contenders' admission before Chelsea clash

By 90min | Created at 2025-03-15 16:55:21 | Updated at 2025-03-15 20:51:48 4 hours ago

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has claimed that he knew Chelsea would be "contenders" to win the Premier League title just by watching Enzo Maresca's team in pre-season friendlies.

The Gunners head into Sunday's top-flight clash with their London rivals in second place, a yawning 15 points behind runaway league leaders Liverpool. Chelsea are six points further back. The Blues were second, within one win of the Merseyside club, in mid-December before enduring a rotten start to 2025.

Arteta's Chelsea counterpart Enzo Maresca always stressed that his side had no business being in a Premier League title race - a point which his players have emphatically proven - but the Arsenal boss was adamant that he had always spotted their potential.

"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," Arteta told assembled media this week.

Chelsea FC v Arsenal FC - Premier League

There is plenty of mutual respect between Enzo Maresca and Mikel Arteta / Crystal Pix/MB Media/GettyImages

"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."

Much like Arteta, Maresca honed his coaching skills at Manchester City under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola. The Italian's insistence on deploying a patient passing approach has been criticised by an unhappy Stamford Bridge crowd in recent weeks and months, but Arteta was keen to laud his opposite number.

"He's a magnificent coach," the Spanish boss gushed. "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."

Arteta's admiration for Maresca would no doubt have been bolstered by the 1-1 draw Chelsea earned against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge earlier this season. However, the Blues haven't beaten their capital rivals since August 2021 - back when Thomas Tuchel was in charge and Romelu Lukaku led the line. Arsenal's current streak of six unbeaten matches in this fixture is their longest since a run of 19 between 1995 and 2005.

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