EPL: Arteta Boasts Ahead Of Arsenal Vs Chelsea Clash

The manager for Arsenal, Mikel Arteta, has expressed confidence in his side’s current form ahead of the crucial Premier League clash with Chelsea.

Naija News reports that Arsenal will host Mauricio Pochettino‘s side at the Emirate Stadium on Tuesday.

Arsenal currently leads the League table with 74 points, the same as second-place Liverpool but with a much greater goal difference. The Gunners returned to the top of the league following their 2-0 win against Wolves during the weekend.

On the other hand, Chelsea suffered a defeat against City in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday; however, they have managed to maintain an unbeaten streak of eight league games, securing four victories during this period.

Following their recent league loss to Aston Villa and elimination from the Champions League by Bayern Munich, Arteta emphasized the significance of Saturday’s triumph against Wolves.

“We are in a great position in the Premier League,” the Spaniard tactician told reporters on Monday.

“We’ve been like this for nine months, nine-and-a-half months, and we want to give it a real go and be really determined to do what is in our hands to try to lift that trophy. Tomorrow, we are going to have a very tough opponent in front of us.”

Earlier, during his press conference, Pochettino mentioned that a decision regarding the fitness of leading goal-scorer, Cole Palmer would be made at the last minute, as Palmer had been absent from training due to illness.

However, Pochettino expressed confidence that his team could secure a victory with or without their key player.

“The most important thing is the team and the collective,” he said.

The Chelsea manager added: “He is an important part of the team and is doing fantastic for us, but we are Chelsea and we have plenty of players that can perform and do the job.”

Chelsea Is Doing Better Than People Are Talking – Arteta Admits

Speaking further on his opponent’s current form, Arteta said ninth-placed Chelsea would not be easy to beat regardless of whether Palmer was fit, praising the squad and “incredible manager” Pochettino.

He said: “Whoever they put out there when you look at the squad they have, the quality they have, it’s great.

“I think they are doing very, very well. I think they’re doing much better than people are talking.”

Arteta added: “They deserve to be in a much higher position in the league when you look at what they’ve done and what they’ve produced in games.

“They have reached a final (League Cup) and a semi-final (FA Cup), and they could have been through. I think what Mauricio is doing is really impressive, and I’m sure he’s going to get them there.”

Arteta expressed that his players exhibited remarkable vitality despite enduring a demanding season. The club is relentlessly pursuing its first Premier League championship in two decades.

“When I saw them this morning I had to stop them because winning is a big boost of energy and after their performance against Wolves, winning and having to play a London derby tomorrow, everybody is ready for it.

“Something else is the amount and the volume of those games. It’s not the moment for us to look at that, we have to think in a positive way and feel and think that we are fresh to perform in the best possible way.”

Arteta was also asked about his team’s good record against other members of the so-called “Big Six” this season, against whom they have not lost a single game. He said: “Whether it’s psychology, whether it’s performance, whether it’s getting better as a team, obviously the more you win against big teams the more belief you have that you can do it consistently.”