Mikel Arteta, Arsenal manager, has made comments on Chelsea's chances in the title race ahead of their match at Emirates Stadium. Arteta believes Chelsea have "every ingredient" to be near the top of the table due to their squad quality and schedule. He is close friends with new Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso, whom he praises for getting a high-level job. Arteta faces off against Alonso in his first London derby as Arsenal manager on Sunday.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-06,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
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🔮 "Knowing him [Alonso], knowing the history of the club, the quality of the squad that they have, the schedule that they are going to face in relation to other teams - it is very, very possible that is going to be the case."
Arteta and Alonso both grew up in San Sebastian and came through for grassroots club Antiguoko.
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola is also from that part of Spain and played in the same team as Arteta.
Arteta and Alonso faced off in pre-season when Arsenal took on Bayer Leverkusen in 2024, and on Sunday they will go head-to-head in the heat of a London derby.
🔮 Arteta accepted that fans would always want more in the transfer market, but also pointed to the strength of options the Premier League champions have at their disposal in a passionate defence of his squad.
“That’s human nature, I think,” he said.
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first seen 2026-09-06
🔮 "Knowing him [Alonso], knowing the history of the club, the quality of the squad that they have, the schedule that they are going to face in relation to other teams - it is very, very possible that is going to be the case."
Arteta and Alonso both grew up in San Sebastian and came through for grassroots club Antiguoko.
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola is also from that part of Spain and played in the same team as Arteta.
Arteta and Alonso faced off in pre-season when Arsenal took on Bayer Leverkusen in 2024, and on Sunday they will go head-to-head in the heat of a London derby.
The London rivals meet at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon, presenting them with the chance to lay down an early marker in the title race.
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rivals → meet → race
Both sides have won their opening two matches of the season, though in particularly contrasting fashion.
Arsenal have kept two clean sheets and displayed their strength in defence, whereas Chelsea have won 4-3 and 3-2 in chaotic matches.
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Chelsea → win → matches
Arteta is close friends with Alonso and he is preparing for a season-long battle between the two clubs.
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he → prepare → clubs
"I think they have every ingredient to be in the highest part of the table," he said.
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he → think → table
"Knowing him [Alonso], knowing the history of the club, the quality of the squad that they have, the schedule that they are going to face in relation to other teams - it is very, very possible that is going to be the case."
Arteta and Alonso both grew up in San Sebastian and came through for grassroots club Antiguoko.
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola is also from that part of Spain and played in the same team as Arteta.
Arteta and Alonso faced off in pre-season when Arsenal took on Bayer Leverkusen in 2024, and on Sunday they will go head-to-head in the heat of a London derby.
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they → know → derby
"I spoke to him before that," Arteta said of Alonso's appointment as Chelsea boss.
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Arteta → speak → boss
"But really happy for him, as I said.
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I → say → him
It's incredible because obviously we have the history that we have together, the same with Andoni.
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we → have → Andoni
"To be facing each other in such a level and with the responsibility we have managing some of the top clubs in the country is a really beautiful thing to experience."
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