Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has spoken about his upcoming first Premier League duel with Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso, a close friend since childhood. The two Basque managers will meet on the touchline when their teams face off at the Emirates Stadium on September 6, as reported by the Straits Times Sport.
Chelsea travel to north London sitting fourth in the Premier League, having taken six points from their opening two matches. Their next fixture is this important away clash against Arsenal, who are currently second in the table. You can view the full standings and upcoming fixtures for the season.
What is the history between Arteta and Alonso?
Mikel Arteta and Xabi Alonso are both 44 years old and grew up together in Spain's Basque Country. Their friendship has endured throughout parallel playing and coaching careers. Their first managerial encounter came in a 2024 friendly when Alonso was in charge of Bayer Leverkusen. Arteta expressed his happiness for his counterpart's success. "I am really happy for him. It’s incredible because obviously we have the history we have together," Arteta said.
How have Chelsea started the season?
Chelsea's perfect start has been built on fast beginnings. They have scored seven goals and conceded five across their two victories. Key to this has been the early goals in both matches, which Arteta identified as a major factor. "That will depend on a lot of factors and game state is a massive one, especially because the two games that they played, they scored very, very early and that changes the momentum and the shift of the game," he noted. Forwards Morgan Rogers, Joao Pedro, and Cole Palmer have all found form in front of goal early in the campaign.
How did Arsenal approach the transfer window?
In contrast to Chelsea's settled attack, Arsenal's only forward addition during the recent transfer window was Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge. The club was linked with moves for Rogers, Julian Alvarez, and Vinicius Junior but did not secure those deals. Arteta has now shifted focus to his existing squad, which will rely on Kai Havertz, Viktor Gyokeres, and Bukayo Saka in attack following the departures of Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus, and Gabriel Martinelli.
The manager stated the window is closed and he prefers to concentrate on his current players. When asked if Arsenal fell short in the market, Arteta called such suggestions 'just opinions'. He emphasized the importance of understanding minutes played and injury data from last season, particularly the first six months. "Arsenal already has some very, very good players," Arteta affirmed. Fans can examine the current squad for the season ahead.
What can we expect from the match?
The stage is set for a compelling tactical battle between two close friends. Chelsea's positive goal difference of +2 will be tested against an Arsenal side eager to prove their attacking credentials. Arteta's analysis of game state and early momentum suggests he is acutely aware of the threat posed by Alonso's fast-starting team. The match kicks off on September 6, with Chelsea looking to maintain their perfect record.
