Enzo Maresca and Moises Caicedo had a lot to say about Arsenal after the Gunners’ win over Chelsea.
Mikel Arteta’s side cruised to victory against their London rivals in a derby that lacked quality from both sides.
Arsenal beat Chelsea 1-0 to gain a much-needed three points however, the hosts were far from their best on the day.
The same can be said for the Blues who failed to cause Arsenal problems throughout, with a lot of feedback for both managers to take from the contest.
Enzo Maresca and Moises Caicedo share Arsenal verdict
Mikel Merino was the match winner on an afternoon that saw several Arsenal players thrive.
William Saliba and Jurrien Timber were the best performers against Chelsea, telling all that needs to be known about the lack of quality going forward.
That being said, Arsenal dominated the game all over the pitch to give Maresca’s side no chance of snatching a result but, the Chelsea boss had a different view.
Speaking to the media after the contest, the Italian made a swipe at Arteta by insisting that there wasn’t a ‘big difference’ between his side and Arsenal.
“What I can say about the first game against Arsenal and today’s game, I don’t see a big difference between us and them,” he said.
Maresca wasn’t the only Chelsea figure to have such a view of the Gunners, as midfielder Moises Caicedo went even further with his assessment.
“They were working seven years together, and us just two years, and we showed we were better than them, and that’s good,” Caicedo explained.
The midfielder’s assessment required some fact checking as the Arsenal squad looked remarkably different seven years ago, with Arsene Wenger as manager.
Maresca’s comments are a warning to Mikel Arteta
While Caicedo’s verdict was wildly inaccurate, Maresca’s view of the game should be considered a warning to Arteta.
The Spaniard guided his team to finish 26 points above Chelsea last season, a gap that has since closed to nine, with the Blues taking great strides under their new manager.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 1 |  LiverpoolLiverpool | 29 | 21 | 7 | 1 | 69 | 27 | 42 | 70 |
| 2 |  ArsenalArsenal | 29 | 16 | 10 | 3 | 53 | 24 | 29 | 58 |
| 3 |  Nottm ForestNottingham Forest | 29 | 16 | 6 | 7 | 49 | 35 | 14 | 54 |
| 4 |  ChelseaChelsea | 29 | 14 | 7 | 8 | 53 | 37 | 16 | 49 |
| 5 |  Man CityManchester City | 29 | 14 | 6 | 9 | 55 | 40 | 15 | 48 |
Arsenal have suffered a difficult season, with recruitment incorrect and identity lacking, something that must be considered a backwards step for Arteta.
With three points on board and the international break coming up, Arsenal must take Maresca’s comments seriously, with a lot to improve before the end of the season going into the summer.
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