The match at Stamford Bridge on 30/11 will be a clash between the first and second-placed teams in the Premier League. Ahead of matchday 13, Arsenal have 29 points, six points more than Chelsea.

In the pre-match press conference, Arteta was asked if Chelsea are direct competitors in the title race. Before the season began, Chelsea were not rated as highly as Manchester City or defending champions Liverpool.

"Chelsea deserve to be in their current position given what they have done over the past few years," Arteta stated. "Looking at the squad quality, the number and caliber of players, and what they have shown, it is perfectly logical for them to be among the leading group."

Manager Mikel Arteta during an Arsenal training session on 28/11. Photo: PA Wire

Arsenal recently secured two impressive victories, defeating Tottenham 4-1 in the Premier League and Bayern 3-1 in the Champions League, placing them at the top of both competitions this season. Arteta believes the upcoming London derby will also be a significant test.

"We talk about making a statement every three days," the Spanish manager said. "After beating Tottenham, then Bayern, now we are about to play Chelsea. This week is very important, and in three days, it will be a similar match again. Nothing has changed. The team has great momentum."

In their last encounter, Arsenal beat Chelsea one-nil thanks to Mikel Merino's goal in march. At that time, Arteta regarded Chelsea as the best attacking team in the league, superior to the rest.

When asked if he still held that view, the 43-year-old manager replied: "That was last season. This season has only just begun, so it's hard to say definitively. But they are one of the teams I enjoy watching the most: fluid play, many attacking options, many disruptive individuals, and a very clear approach. Therefore, they are an extremely challenging opponent."

After the Champions League match mid-week, Bayern vice-captain Joshua Kimmich expressed dissatisfaction, suggesting Arsenal relied heavily on set pieces and long balls, and considered PSG a tougher opponent.

Arteta understood Kimmich's statement and avoided controversy. He commented: "I know what he means. The way the two teams play, especially how they faced PSG, has many similarities. When both press high, man-mark, use advanced full-backs, and constantly rotate positions, the game becomes different. That is entirely explainable."

Regarding squad updates, Arteta confirmed Leandro Trossard needs further examination for a calf injury sustained in the win against Bayern, while the duo Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz are awaiting results from a second scan. Gabriel Jesus also played in a training match with Watford to regain match fitness after undergoing knee surgery earlier this year.

Hong Duy (according to ESPN)