Mikel Arteta says Chelsea should be in the mix with Arsenal for the Premier League title this year.

Arsenal is on top, six points ahead of Chelsea before their game this Sunday.

Last year, Arsenal got second place for the third time in a row, but Chelsea was fourth.

But Enzo Maresca's team won the Club World Cup this summer and signed some new players to make their team even better.

Chelsea had a rough patch earlier in the season, but they've won five of their last six games, putting them second in the Premier League and seventh in the Champions League.

Before the big game against Arsenal, Maresca said it was too soon to say if Chelsea could win the title.

But Arteta thinks Chelsea should be in the title race and says they're one of his favourite teams to watch.

When asked if he thought Chelsea could win the title, Arteta said, I think we all are, and they're there because they've earned it over the past few years.

They have a strong team, good players, and good coaches, so it makes sense that things are going well for them, and they deserve to be where they are.

Arteta surprised some people when he said Chelsea was the best attacking team in the league after they played in March.

When asked if he still thought that was true, Arteta said, They were [the best last season], but it's early in the season, so it's hard to say.

But they're one of the teams I enjoy watching the most. They're fluid and dangerous and have a lot of individual talent.

They know what they want to do, and that's why they're so tough.

Chelsea was 15 points behind Liverpool, who won the Premier League last season, so it makes sense that Maresca isn't talking up their chances of winning the title.

For me, it's very early, the Italian told reporters on Friday. It's too early even if we win or lose [against Arsenal].

It's only November, and there are still five or six months to go. What's important is where we are [in the standings] in February and March, and then we'll see if we can do something special.

Even though he's not saying Chelsea will win the title, Maresca says there's a good vibe in the team before Arsenal comes to visit.

Chelsea got ready for Arsenal by beating Barcelona 3-0 in the Champions League.

It's another big game, Maresca said. We finished the Barcelona game feeling good.

I don't know if it's bigger than the last one. To me, they're all important. It's a good feeling, but it's still just three points. Then we have Leeds, which is also worth three points.

The mindset and mood are very good. We're doing well in the Premier League and Champions League. It's a good feeling to see that we're getting better.

We need that kind of support from the fans. It's always great to share those moments with everyone at the end of the game.

Ahead of Sunday's match against Chelsea, Mikel Arteta said he believes they deserve to be in the Premier League title conversation.

The Arsenal manager has often praised Enzo Maresca's team and enjoys watching them play. Arsenal heads to Stamford Bridge with a six-point advantage over their London rivals.

Past Praise for Chelsea

Arteta has never been shy about praising one of Arsenal's biggest rivals. When they last played in March, he called Chelsea the best attacking team in the league by a mile, even though Arsenal won 1-0.

During his pre-match press conference, Arteta stood by his previous comments about Chelsea. He also said they are real contenders for the Premier League title this year.

Arteta on Chelsea's Title Chances

When asked if Chelsea deserves to be considered title challengers, Arteta responded, I think we are all in the mix, and they are there because they've earned it over the past few years. They have a great squad with a lot of talent, and the positive things happening there are well-deserved.

When asked if he still thinks Chelsea has the best attack in the league, he said, They were last season, but it's too early to say this year.

But they're one of my favourite teams to watch. They have a smooth style of play, a lot of attacking threat, and a lot of individual talent. They know exactly what they want to do, which makes them very tough to play against.

Injury Updates

Arteta gave an update on the injury status of some of his players.

Leandro Trossard is waiting for another test on a calf injury he picked up during Arsenal's Champions League win against Bayern Munich in the week. The returns of Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz depend on repeat scans on hamstring and knee issues, respectively.

When asked about the scans, Arteta said, They're not completely clear yet, but they're getting close. We're optimistic about both of them.

He also updated on Gabriel Jesus, who played in a behind-closed-doors game against Watford on Thursday. It was Jesus' first game since having knee surgery in January.

Arteta said Jesus is very close to returning to the first team, adding, We're watching how he reacts to the increased workload, and he needs to get back into the team's rhythm. Game situations are very different from training, and we're trying to close that gap as quickly as possible.

Chelsea and Arsenal's Good Form

Arsenal's strong squad has helped them deal with recent injuries. Arteta praised his players' preparation after their 3-1 win over Bayern Munich, which was their most impressive result in a 16-game unbeaten run since losing 1-0 to Liverpool in August.

Chelsea also had a big European win this week, beating Barcelona 3-0 at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday. They've been playing well in recent weeks, scoring eight goals and conceding two in their last three games.

Sunday's game feels important for the title race. If Chelsea plays as well as Arteta believes they can, it could create a three-way title race with Manchester City. But if Arsenal wins, they'll have a nine-point lead, which is significant even with a lot of the season left. They also have the league's best attack and defence.