Chelsea Star Praises Arsenal as 'Still a Great Team' Ahead of Today's Showdown

 

Chelsea and Arsenal are set to face off in a classic Premier League rivalry this afternoon, and as always, fans can expect a fiercely competitive London derby. Historically, Chelsea has often dominated, but recently, it’s been Arsenal under Mikel Arteta who’ve had the edge. With Chelsea navigating ownership changes and rebuilding phases, Arsenal has managed to outperform them in recent seasons.

This year, however, Chelsea is showing promise and sits above Arsenal in the league after ten games. Although the season is still young, there’s growing optimism that Chelsea could once again be among the top contenders. Only time will tell if they can maintain this form.

Elsewhere in the league, some big teams have stumbled, including Manchester City, who are enduring an unusual rough patch, losing four consecutive games—the first time manager Pep Guardiola has faced such a streak in his coaching career.

Chelsea winger Noni Madueke, speaking to The Daily Mail, acknowledged Arsenal’s quality, noting, “They’re still a great team and have been title challengers recently. But for us, it’s about preparing like we do for any other match."

While every Premier League match is important, Madueke admits that playing Arsenal brings an extra edge, especially for players who share the field in the national squad. Reflecting on recent matches, he added, “Not winning always stings. We felt it against Manchester United, and with the points dropped to Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace. We need to go in aiming for victory.”