01 January 2023 , 12:23
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Cesc Fabregas has become the latest Arsenal favourite to laud Mikel Arteta as the Gunners head into 2023 seven points clear at the summit of the Premier League.
Just months after imploding in the final weeks of the 2021/22 campaign, Arteta has transformed Arsenal into genuine title contenders.
The Spaniard, who was under intense pressure after missing out on a Champions League spot last term, is now winning plenty of plaudits from fans and pundits alike. And after watching Arsenal extend their lead over Manchester City courtesy of a thumping 4-2 win over Brighton on Saturday, Fabregas has praised the remarkable work Arteta has done at the Emirates.
Fabregas told The Times : "If we had listened to certain people at a time when Arsenal finished eighth and not doing that well, then maybe Mikel wouldn’t be there. But they gave him the time that was needed to develop his own style, his own players coming in, making his own thing.
"Mikel was my team-mate and he helped me a lot when I was very young, he knows the game properly. They haven’t won anything yet, but they are definitely going in the right way."
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Fabregas' comments are eerily similar to those made by Arsenal legend Arsene Wenger earlier this year. The former Gunners chief also praised Arteta and insisted that the Londoners were moving in the right direction under the ex-midfielder.
Back in October, Wenger claimed that Arsenal were the second best side in the Premier League behind Manchester City. The French tipped them as contenders for the title due to the fact that Pep Guardiola's side will be gunning for Champions League glory.
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But Wenger strengthened his stance after he returned to the Emirates for the first time since he left the club in 2018 on Boxing Day. He told TV2 : “It was fantastic. But I don’t want to talk too much about that.”
He then added: "I think they [Arsenal] have all the necessary ingredients, both tactically and mentally. They can go all the way. Because, as you can see, they create so many chances. I actually see no weaknesses."
Despite Arsenal's strong position, Arteta was not getting carried away after Manchester City dropped points against Everton. He told BBC Sport: "We knew the result [of the Manchester City game], but the boost is we have to come here and win, and to do that we have to perform at the highest level in this league.
"Tonight we had to have a big performance to win against a really good Brighton side. We had to dig in as well. [We have] a lot of things to improve, especially in defending moments. We still have room to improve."