Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has admitted that Arsenal are ahead of his side “in every department” ahead of their highly-anticipated Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
The Italian tactician believes that Arsenal’s long-term stability under Mikel Arteta gives them a significant edge, as the Gunners sit second in the table and recently secured a Champions League quarter-final spot. In contrast, Chelsea, who are fourth in the league, are competing in the Conference League and advanced to the last eight on Thursday.
Despite Chelsea trailing Arsenal by just six points, Maresca insists that the gap between the two sides is much larger due to Arsenal’s consistency and experience in high-pressure situations. He pointed out that Arteta’s five-year tenure has allowed Arsenal to develop a cohesive playing style and a winning mentality.
“Our target is to close that gap, but right now the difference is quite big,” Maresca said. “They’ve been working with the same manager for five years, with the same players in important games. That experience makes a big difference.”
Maresca emphasized that Chelsea’s current focus is on securing a top-four or top-five finish to qualify for the Champions League and pushing for Conference League glory. However, he remains hopeful that a positive result against Arsenal could bring them closer in the title race.
“We’re not focusing on whether the gap becomes three, six, or nine points. We’re focused on how we can play our game and try to beat them,” Maresca added. “Second place could be a target, but for now, the priority is Sunday’s game.”
Chelsea face a tough challenge at the Emirates, where they’ve struggled in recent years. The Blues have managed just one win in their last 11 meetings with Arsenal, dating back to August 2021 when Romelu Lukaku marked his second debut with a goal.
Since then, Arsenal have won four and drawn two of the last six encounters, while Chelsea have suffered heavy defeats on their last two visits to the Emirates, including a humiliating 5-0 loss in April. Maresca will be hoping to change that narrative and close the gap on their London rivals.
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