Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has stated that he expected Chelsea to be “contenders” for the Premier League title this season.
The two teams will face off at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, with Arsenal currently sitting second in the table and Chelsea in fourth, six points behind them.
However, the likelihood of either side catching runaway leaders Liverpool, who hold a 15-point lead and have played one more game, seems slim.
At this point, both Arsenal and Chelsea are focusing on securing a place in next season’s Champions League, with fifth place now appearing to be enough for qualification. Arsenal will also face Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of Europe’s elite club competition this season.
Arteta admitted he had anticipated more from Chelsea under head coach Enzo Maresca this year.
“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,” said Arteta.
“They have so much there. Once everything clicks and they find their connection, energy, and consistency, I think they can compete with any team.”
Chelsea briefly seemed to be the closest challengers to Liverpool in December, when they moved within two points of the top after a five-game winning streak.
However, since then, they have only won four of their last 12 games, exposing several weaknesses, particularly in defense.
Despite criticism from their supporters over their style of play and ongoing issues, Arteta has backed former Leicester City manager Maresca to turn things around.
“He’s a magnificent coach,” Arteta added. “He’s very clear about what he wants to do, and how he does it. I really like the way his team plays.”
In other news, Arteta also praised defender Myles Lewis-Skelly, who received his first England call-up on Friday for Thomas Tuchel’s squad, noting that he had shown great potential during the club’s pre-season tour of the United States.
