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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has sent shockwaves through the Premier League with a bold claim about Chelsea’s title credentials—and it’s not what fans expected. Despite the Blues languishing 21 points behind leaders Liverpool, Arteta insists he always saw them as genuine contenders. The revelation comes ahead of Sunday’s high-stakes London derby, where Arsenal aim to tighten their grip on second place.
But why is Arteta talking up a rival in freefall? The answer lies in a pre-season epiphany—and a surprising admiration for Chelsea’s embattled manager.
Mikel Arteta’s bold claim: "Chelsea were always title contenders’”
Arteta isn’t known for sugarcoating truths—so when he calls Chelsea “title contenders,” it’s worth paying attention. The Arsenal manager dropped the eyebrow-raising take ahead of Sunday’s clash, revealing he’s backed the Blues’ potential since preseason.
“From the moment I watched them play in pre-season, understanding how Enzo [Maresca] works and the talent they have… they were contenders to even win it from the beginning,” Arteta told reporters.
His praise defies logic. Chelsea sit sixth, 21 points adrift of Liverpool and 15 behind Arsenal. A mid-December surge briefly had them nipping at the Reds’ heels, but a dismal 2025 collapse erased those hopes. Yet Mikel Arteta doubled down:
“The moment everything clicks… they can compete with any team.”
The Spaniard’s faith stems from shared roots with Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca. Both cut their teeth under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, mastering a possession-heavy philosophy. While Maresca’s patient build-up play has drawn ire from frustrated Chelsea fans, Arteta lauds his counterpart’s vision.
“He’s a magnificent coach,” he gushed. “Very clear what he wants… I really like the way his team plays.”
That admiration was tested in their last meeting—a 1-1 stalemate at Stamford Bridge. But Arsenal’s dominance in this rivalry is stark: unbeaten in six derbies, their longest streak since the late ’90s. Mikel Arteta, however, isn’t complacent. “They have so much there,” he warned, referencing Chelsea’s star-studded roster.
For Maresca, the praise is bittersweet. Tasked with reviving a fractured squad, his Guardiola-esque blueprint has yet to gel. Yet Arteta’s endorsement hints at a deeper respect for long-term projects—a theme echoing his own Arsenal rebuild.
Sunday’s match isn’t just about points; it’s a clash of philosophies. Arteta’s high-pressing Gunners versus Maresca’s methodical Blues. While Liverpool’s title charge overshadows both, Mikel Arteta’s words remind us: in football, respect between rivals can be as fierce as the competition itself.
