Given Arsenal’s recent form, an away trip to Chelsea doesn’t look especially inviting although recent clashes against the Blues have served as timely turning points in moments of soul-searching.
Most notably, Mikel Arteta got his managerial tenure back on track with a 3-0 win over Frank Lampard’s side on Boxing Day 2020. Later, a surprise 4-2 victory at Stamford Bridge in April 2022 provided a similar boost.
In fact, Arsenal have become something of a bogey team for Chelsea under Arteta. While the Blues edged out a late win in their first meeting in December 2019, they’ve only managed to beat us once in 10 games since – a 2-0 result three seasons ago.
“There’s been a few [good moments],” said Arteta on Friday. “One of those, it was in a difficult moment when Emile Smith Rowe came in and I think he changed something, I don’t know what it is, momentum, energy, belief but that was a key one.
“We had some away games as well that have been very, very nice, especially with our supporters there and the connection that generates, that belief, it was a moment where we really needed to win to stay at the level, we sustained that pressure. Yeah, there have been some nice moments.”
He added: “It’s true that in one against [Thomas] Tuchel’s team we were lucky enough to win it, we didn’t do enough in the game to actually win it but we actually won it.
“I really like how I see the boys today and how we’re going into that game really believing that we can win it and make it happen.”
As things stand, the two sides are level on points in the Premier League with Enzo Maresca quick to build on the progress made by successor Mauricio Pochettino in the second half of last season.
“Really impressed about what [Maresca’s] done but what they’ve done over a year because with Mauricio [Pocchetino] the last six months were extraordinary,” noted Arteta.
“You could see the squad, the quality they have, the amount of players they have and then Enzo has given his touch and you can see clearly what he wants to do.
“I think he’s been really brave from day one to consistently follow what he wanted to do. I know how he thinks, I know a lot of people that know him well and are very happy that he is making a lot of progress there.”
It remains to be seen whether Cole Palmer, Chelsea’s main attacking threat, is available for the match. The England international missed the Blues’ 1-1 draw with Manchester United and wasn’t part of the squad that smashed eight goals past a Conference League side whose name I can’t even be bothered to look up.
If Palmer does make it onto the teamsheet, which is looking increasingly likely, does Arteta have a plan to stop him.
“That’s a question that probably all the managers in the league have had in the last year or so and he’s still managed to impact games in the right way,” said the boss.
“Obviously we will have a plan, not only for Cole, but to minimise all the quality and threats that they have and try to exploit their weaknesses, like any other team.”
While the broken cannons have returned to the back of the sports pages following the surprise exit of Sporting Director Edu and consecutive defeats to Newcastle and Inter Milan, there has been a glimmer of good news – the return to fitness of Martin Odegaard.
The hope is the Norway international can find his groove quickly after a prolonged spell on the sidelines. Can he alone fix an ailing attack that has been struggling to find the net from open play?
“We are demanding that but it’s not very realistic,” said Arteta.
“It’s about the collective, every player taking ownership with what we have to do in attack and doing it better and more consistently. But certainly, having a player like Martin helps because he’s shown how important he’s been for us in the last three or four years.
“We hope he’s going to help because he’s been incredibly good for us and the impact he has on the team, not only in that phase, but in other phases that are also linked to the attacking phase, especially the way we transfer from one to other. He’s been out for a while as well, so let’s hope that it’s going to be very fast and that he can impact the team.”
One thing is clear, Arsenal need a league win not only to change the mood music but to stay in the title hunt. At this point, it doesn’t need to be stylish or emphatic, we just need the points.
“Winning is the best formula for everything,” said Arteta. “For energy, for belief, for confidence, for the noise inside, the noise outside, to create momentum, generate a positive surrounding, it helps for everything, even if you don’t deserve it.”
Asked if Arsenal are facing a crisis, he continued: “I don’t like to attach specific words to certain moments, we are here to win, that’s clear. Win tomorrow, win on Tuesday and to win the next match and that’s the demands that we have to live with, anything that’s not winning is going to create other stuff, debates, it’s going to create arguments whatever it is, we are here to win, that’s clear.”
We’re bang in the middle of a really tough run of fixtures as it’s turned out. Chelsea actually look like a team again and Forest are in great form too. We really need two wins now to boost confidence. It’ll just take one moment to instil a little belief.
I just hope Odegaard can hit the ground running. We need him to.
Just two wins? Five is a must.
I’m glad to see Arteta give Smith-Rowe credit for his contribution in helping turn the tide of his and our fortunes. He gave us energy and verve and lifted the team out of the doldrums at a time when we needed it most. It’s possible Arteta may not have lasted without what he gave us and without Arteta coming to life as the brilliant manager he now is I don’t think we would be where we are. We owe Smith-Rowe a lot.
Agreed. We have had some really transformative players and Smith-Rowe was the one who, alongside Saka, kickstarted it. The same could also be said for Ramsdale, Zinchenko and Jesus. I said this in another feed earlier but the one concern I have is the speed at which they all suddenly became bit part players and/or were cast aside. I hope this is not disrupting the team’s morale. We’ve looked laboured recently, largely due to Odegaard’s absence and it feels like a few players have lost a bit of confidence. I can’t help but feel that ESR or even Vieira might… Read more »
Couldn’t agree more, look how well he’s doing at Fulham👍
Agreed. I think it’s the first time I’ve seen him reference what has become folklore among the fans in Smith-Rowe’s role. I think we all still pine for him because he stood out as something entirely different and unpredictable. Less sure about the impact Vieira could have had. Maybe with much more minutes he could have got into his groove but it’s unrealistic to expect that luxury at the top level. Sometimes Arteta takes a more (a)rousing approach in his presser and it feels like this is a good sign for the mood in camp. I think we’ll start really… Read more »
Why do I keep thinking I saw that rat faced Palmer play against united?
Mistook one of the other rat faced bastards for him?
Saw a great comment over here somewhere (and can’t find the right article) listing the reasons for our poor results, with poor refereeing pretty down the list. For me, that absolutely tops the list: I love the ‘no excuses’ mentality Arteta tries to instill into the players as well as outside of the club, but I believe it’s the absurd decisions that took most points from us: take out the red cards against Brighton & Man City and we’re likely winning those. That’s extra 4 points and our league season is viewed very differently. Secondly, injuries. We haven’t seen the… Read more »
Slot is obviously aware of it as well, speaking on TNT after last night’s game: “It was Mikel [Arteta] who said & I agree with him completely, they had many, many, many difficult away games already & had to play them with 10 men as well. We had difficult games, but only Man Utd away & Arsenal away as the ones you’d expect to be top six.” By the way, by no means am I saying that “Liverpool are bad” – just that their fixture list helped them create a momentum that has been a vital part of their recent… Read more »
I reckon this weekend is the moment fortunes swing back in our favour and momentum builds with a more settled team and lighter fixtures until May bar returns against Citeh and Pooly
Well, ESR is leading the Fulham team currently egal points with us.
Fuck Chelsea!
My thoughts exactly
Chelsea game is a must win, win it and you’re 7 points off the top and we’ve got a really good run for the next 12 games (mostly all winnable games on paper). Lose that game and IMO the league dream is over #COYG
The form we are in, we should refrain from title talks. It’s way too far! The way the team is playing top 4 will be quite an achievement. Obviously the team has the quality to turn thing around, but at the moment the attack is so so blunt.
I see a funny pattern in squad building from late Arsenal Wenger years. Back then we had an opportunity to build our squad with one final piece(Luis Suarez) but we scuppered the deal. I remember a window where we signed just Peter Cech. This season, all fans could see that we needed back up for Saka, Striker and perhaps a back up for Saliba but what do we do, sell and loan our Odegard back ups leaving the squad weaker in my opinion.Its funny how fast things change in football. The ruthlessness Arteta talks about hasn’t been seen. I will… Read more »