Mikel Arteta should be alarmed by what Enzo Maresca said after Arsenal draw vs Chelsea

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It’s back to the drawing board for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal who head into the international break winless in their previous four.

The Gunners have picked up two points from a possible 12 in their previous four Premier League matches, with form continuing against Chelsea.

Arsenal drew 1-1 with their London rivals at Stamford Bridge on week 11, pushing Arteta’s side nine points below league leaders Liverpool. 

There were plenty of positives to take from the draw however, a win was desired and was not achieved, making for another underwhelming week of action.

• READ MORE: Five things you may have missed from Arsenal draw vs Chelsea, including crazy Jurrien Timber moment

Enzo Maresca reacts to Chelsea draw vs Arsenal

Gabriel Martinelli gave Arsenal the lead at the Bridge, finishing from Martin Odegaard’s pass to send the away end into pandemonium.

The visitors were only ahead for 10 minutes as Pedro Neto fired back with an almost instant response, seeing the game end even.

It was a different fixture from the last time the two sides met, which saw Arsenal demolish Chelsea 5-0 at the Emirates, showing the club’s progression under Enzo Maresca. 

After the draw, Maresca commented on his side’s result, identifying how far behind the Blues are in comparison to the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal.

“I have said many times that we are behind clubs like City and Arsenal because they have worked every day for the last five years or nine years with the same manager,” Maresca said via Chelsea’s official website. 

“We are behind them but that doesn’t mean we are not going to compete because Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in Europe and the world.”

Even those who detest Chelsea cannot deny the impact Maresca has had, which should send a clear message to Arteta.

Mikel Arteta should be concerned by Maresca’s comments

Maresca was correct in his evaluation of the fixture, as facing a manager in his fifth year at Arsenal is a challenge for a coach only four months into his role.

It was a game that was well contested between the two squads, with it glaringly evident how much Chelsea have improved from when Arsenal thrashed the Blues in April. 

• READ MORE: What Mikel Arteta did right before full-time in Chelsea draw speaks volumes about the result

For Arteta, the pressure is on to not only win silverware but to get his squad to consistently elevate which so far this campaign, has not been the case. 

After finishing two points short of Manchester City last season, there was hope that the Gunners would reach the next level this term but after 11 games played, Arsenal’s league win percentage is just 45%. 

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	LiverpoolLiverpool	11	9	1	1	21	6	15	28
2	Man CityManchester City	11	7	2	2	22	13	9	23
3	ChelseaChelsea	11	5	4	2	21	13	8	19
4	ArsenalArsenal	11	5	4	2	18	12	6	19
5	Nottm ForestNottingham Forest	11	5	4	2	15	10	5	19
6	BrightonBrighton	11	5	4	2	19	15	4	19

Yes, Arsenal have had injuries and yes, some decisions against the club have been harsh however, in order to be champions there has to be a solution to such hurdles.

Maresca expects his side to fall behind the Gunners due to the time Arteta has had to perfect his squad which is reasonable, yet Arsenal’s performance level has dipped quite significantly.

Putting inconveniences aside, the North Londoners simply haven’t been played at the level required, hence the nine-point gap between first and fourth.

Elevation was a must this term, which might still be the case if things can turn around although, form that sees five wins from 11 games is not acceptable nor expected from a squad perfected by a long-term leader.