Arsenal not looking to make a statement at Chelsea, just take the three points

Mikel Arteta dismissed the notion of claiming a “statement win” at Chelsea on Sunday and pointed out his Arsenal players are used to high-stakes matches.

The Gunners visit Stamford Bridge in a clash between the teams that occupy the top two places in the Premier League heading into the weekend.

Arsenal have had a fantastic week, beating North London derby rivals Spurs 4-1 last Sunday before an even more impressive 3-1 defeat of Bayern Munich in midweek.

The next test takes them to West London but Arteta does not believe beating Enzo Maresca’s side would send a message to the rest of the teams around them.

“Those are statements that we are talking about every three days,” he said. “After beating Spurs at home, then we have to make a statement against Bayern Munich, we’ve done that and now we have to go to the next one. That’s where we are, we knew the importance of the week, not only that, but what is coming after three days is going to be exactly the same, nothing is going to change. 

“We just live in the present and make the best possible preparation to try to be better than them and win the game.

“It’s a big game, it’s a big London derby. We’re going to play a really good opponent in good form. We know the challenge, we know the opportunity we have as well. We’re going to be ready for it.”

Arteta enjoys watching Chelsea

Arteta says Chelsea, who beat Barcelona 3-0 on Tuesday, are one of his favourite teams to watch and thinks they are very much in the title race.

He added: “I think we are all there and they are there because they fully deserve to be. What they have done in the last few years, I think the squad they have assembled, the numbers that they have, the amount of quality, the manager and the coaching staff that they have, it makes sense that what is happening there is very, very positive and they deserve to be there.

“They are one of the teams that I enjoy the most watching, they have a lot of fluidity, they have a lot of strength, they have a lot of individual talent, they are very clear what they want to do, and that’s why they’re pretty tough.”

Gyokeres and Havertz could return

Arsenal have been operating without a recognised centre-forward since before the international break with Spain midfielder Mikel Merino moving forward to play the role.

Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are all edging towards full fitness although Arteta would not confirm whether they will be available for Sunday.

Asked if big-money summer signing Gyokeres would come straight back in when fit, Arteta said: “Well, the good thing is that now we have found another option. We have three different options. That’s a really good learning for all of us, especially for me, to understand that with other players, with other connections, with other ways of doing things, we can still be very, very efficient.

“We lost a player, two or three, we lost, at some point, six players in the front line, and the team continued to win and be very, very efficient. So I think that’s very positive and now what we have to prove is, ok, once we have everybody back, we are going to still be as good, or hopefully better.”

The in-form Leandro Trossard is likely to be fit after taking a knock against Bayern and will start on the left of a front three. Gabriel remains sidelined so either Cristhian Mosquera or Piero Hincapie will start alongside William Saliba at the heart of the defence.