“What is he talking about?” – Former Arsenal player on controversial Arteta quotes | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta called Chelsea the best attacking team in the league following Arsenal’s win over the Blues on Sunday, a quote that raised a lot of eyebrows.

“In my opinion, they’re the best attacking team in the league. By a mile. The stats say it, everything I’ve seen says it in open play,” the Arsenal coach said.

“They can open you, they can run in transitions, they have individual quality, any player in the defensive line can threaten inside. They can combine on both sides, their weaker sides.”

That is some Pep Guardiola level flattery from a man who clearly learned well from the master. He claims the stats back it up, but Chelsea are second in the league on xG, a colossal 10xG behind leaders Liverpool. In terms of actual goals scored, they’re joint 4th with the Gunners.

And when you consider how much of that is propped up by our 2024 form (most of it), it becomes even less convincing.

Merson puzzled by Arteta claims

Mikel Arteta and Enzo Maresca on the touchline at Stamford Bridge. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

In his column for Sky Sports, Paul Merson had the same take we did:

“I’m not buying into that one. I’m not buying in,” the former Arsenal man said of Arteta’s quotes in his column for Sky Sports.

“[Chelsea] scored one goal against Leicester to win 1-0. Leicester, in their previous 20 matches, had only failed once to let in two or more goals in a Premier League game.

“I’m flabbergasted by [Arteta’s] quote. I honestly don’t get that. There will be a lot of Chelsea fans reading that thinking, ‘Wow! What is he talking about?’.”

We’re with you Paul. There’s no doubt we’ve got some good attacking players, but anyone who watched our first half performances against Copenhagen, Leicester and Arsenal on Saturday who can call us a great attacking team with a straight face is a very good liar.