Mikel Arteta fired a warning to Chelsea after Arsenal’s Champions League defeat at Inter Milan on Wednesday night.
The Gunners lost for the first time in Europe this season after Hakan Calhanoglu converted a controversial penalty on the stroke of half-time.
Arteta bemoaned the decision to both award that spot-kick and deny Arsenal one too, after Mikel Merino was caught by Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer when competing for a cross.
Midfielder Merino was then adjudged to have handled in the Arsenal box after the ball hit his arm from close range.
Arteta’s side pushed for an equaliser but created little in the way of clear cut chances, Kai Havertz perhaps having the best of them – although a heroic block from Yann Bisseck denied the German.
Arsenal head to Chelsea in a blockbuster Premier League clash on Sunday and Arteta believes their performance at Inter could be enough to claim what would be a statement win at Stamford Bridge despite a poor run of form.
“If we play the way we play, we‘ll have a big chance to win against Chelsea,” he said. “That’s the way we have to go.
“I told them that I’m proud of them. I haven‘t seen them play in Europe in the manner that we have today. We are disappointed because we didn’t get what we wanted out of the game, that’s for sure.”
