Mikel Arteta is in urgent need of the "Chelsea effect" as he prepares to lead Arsenal into a crucial match against their London rivals at Stamford Bridge this Sunday. The stakes are high for the manager, who is looking to secure a significant result to boost his struggling team. Reflecting on his journey, Arteta recalls a painful lesson from his early days in charge. In December 2019, during his first home game, Arsenal faced Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium. The match epitomized the challenges he was up against, as Arsenal found themselves in the lower half of the Premier League table, with confidence at a low ebb. In that match, a costly mistake by goalkeeper Bernd Leno in the 83rd minute allowed Jorginho to equalize, leading to a dramatic collapse. Chelsea capitalized on the momentum, with Tammy Abraham scoring the decisive late goal, sealing a disappointing defeat for Arsenal. As Arteta prepares for the upcoming clash, he is acutely aware of the need to turn the tide and restore belief within his squad. A positive result against Chelsea could be just what Arsenal needs to regain their footing in the league.

Hakan Calhanoglu's controversial penalty secured a narrow victory for Inter Milan against Arsenal, leaving Mikel Arteta facing mounting challenges. The match marked a disappointing turn for Arsenal, who had just experienced the unexpected resignation of their sporting director, Edu. With this defeat, they relinquished their unbeaten record in the Champions League, as Calhanoglu maintained his perfect penalty record for Inter, scoring the only goal in a tightly contested encounter. Arteta's frustration was palpable throughout the match, especially after he received a peculiar booking in the second half, putting him on the brink of being sent off as his team sought an equalizer. Despite a much-improved performance in the second half, where Arsenal earned 14 corners compared to Inter's none, they fell to their second consecutive 1-0 defeat on the road.