Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta dismisses the Gunners’ dominant record against Chelsea as “irrelevant” ahead of Sunday’s clash, focusing instead on Liam Rosenior’s unbeaten tactical flexibility.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is refusing to take comfort in his side’s dominant recent record against Chelsea as the two London rivals prepare to clash this Sunday.
Despite the Gunners sitting atop the Premier League and holding a streak where they haven’t lost to the Blues since 2021, Arteta is sounding the alarm on complacency. For him, the fact that Arsenal has won 10 of the last 16 meetings is just a statistic that belongs in the past, not on the pitch.
ℹ️ Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 10 games against Chelsea across all competitions
Will the run continue this Sunday? pic.twitter.com/bLUx0HSDfn
— Premier League USA (@PLinUSA) February 27, 2026
The Spaniard was blunt when addressing the media on Friday, labeling historical data as “irrelevant” to the task at hand. He pointed out that every match exists within its own unique context, where player fitness, team mood, and tactical setups can shift in an instant.
Arteta’s message to his squad is clear: what they achieved two years ago, or even two weeks ago in their League Cup victories, won’t earn them any points when the whistle blows this weekend.
A major reason for Arteta’s caution is the Rosenior factor. Since Liam Rosenior took the helm at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea has become a significantly more adaptable and difficult side to break down. Currently enjoying a six-match unbeaten run in the league, the Blues have shown a tactical flexibility that has impressed the Arsenal boss.
Arteta noted that Chelsea can now shift their shape multiple times within a single game, making them a moving target for any opposition.
The Gunners also have a fresh memory to keep them grounded: their November stalemate against a 10-man Chelsea side. That draw served as a reminder that even when Arsenal has a numerical advantage, this version of Chelsea has the defensive discipline to frustrate the league leaders.
💬 “You could sense from the beginning how much was at stake, two teams putting everything into every action.”
Mikel Arteta on an intense match at Chelsea 👇
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) November 30, 2025
Arteta emphasized that his team has been preparing for every possible scenario Rosenior might throw at them, hoping to prove they are the superior tactical unit on the day.
Of course, with Arsenal still competing on all fronts, the fight to win the quadruple inevitably came up. When asked if the Gunners could become the first English club to win the quadruple, the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, and Champions League, Arteta was quick to pour cold water on the hype. He shrugged off the idea with a smile, simply noting that the reason it hasn’t been done before is precisely because of how difficult it is to maintain that level across four competitions.
Instead of dreaming about a trophy cabinet full of silverware, Arteta is sticking to his game-by-game mantra. He insisted that the right to be in the final stages of any competition must be earned every single week.
By focusing on the immediate hurdle rather than the finish line in May, he hopes to keep his players’ feet firmly on the ground as the pressure of the title race begins to reach its boiling point.
