Mikel Arteta thinks the Premier League table doesn’t yet reflect Chelsea’s improvement this season, and he’s expecting a tough game on Saturday.

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium in London on September 24, 2023. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s Spanish manager Mikel Arteta gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium in London on September 24, 2023. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)

Arsenal go into Saturday’s game against Chelsea nine points and nine places above their London rivals, after finishing 40 points and 10 places above the Blues in 2022/23.

Yet Mikel Arteta believes Chelsea are going to turn things around, and he thinks they’re playing a lot better than the results have shown so far.

“I think when you look first of all at the managing and coaching staff they have, the history of the club that they have, the players and the squad they have, it’s going to happen,” Arteta said.

“I think it has happened pretty quickly, not only in the last three results but I think they deserved much more in terms of results and points than what they already have, so I can see that they’re going to be up there.

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“This season, I’ve been really impressed by Chelsea, they deserve much more than what they’ve got on the table.

“I think what Mauricio has done in such a short time is phenomenal and we’re going to have to be at our best tomorrow.”

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium in London on September 3, 2023. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s Spanish manager Mikel Arteta gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium in London on September 3, 2023. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

It’s true that a lot of the underlying metrics suggest Chelsea are playing better than the results so far would suggest.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side have put together a couple of wins in October so far, having also beaten Brighton and Hove Albion in the League Cup at the end of September, and it looks like they’re finally starting to deliver on their potential.

Yet it’s also true that Chelsea have had a very easy fixture list to start the season.

They’ve already played Burnley, Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest, Fulham, and Luton Town in their opening eight games, all teams ranked even lower than they are in the table.

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta celebrates their victory on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium in London on October 8, 2023. Arsenal won the game 1-0. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s Spanish manager Mikel Arteta celebrates their victory on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium in London on October 8, 2023. Arsenal won the game 1-0. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Saturday’s game will be Arsenal’s fourth against one of the big six in 2023/24, whereas it will be the first time Chelsea have played one of the big six since the opening day of the season.

It’s up to Arsenal to show that Chelsea’s improvement has been more about the quality of the opposition they’ve faced than any real progress they’ve made themselves.

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