Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Roberto De Zerbi has talked up the qualities of Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal side ahead of Saturday's Premier League contest at the American Express Stadium.
Arteta has transformed the Gunners into genuine title contenders since his arrival in 2019, and after narrowly missing out on top spot last season, the North Londoners are now part of a three-horse title race along with Liverpool and reigning champions Manchester City this term.
Arsenal have excelled since the turn of the year, as they have won nine and drawn one of their last 10 Premier League games, dropping their only two points of 2024 in a goalless stalemate with Man City before returning to winning ways on Wednesday with a 2-0 success over Luton Town.
With eight games remaining, Arteta's side sit second in the table, one point above Man City in third and two points behind leaders Liverpool.
De Zerbi, whose Brighton side sit ninth in the table, labelled Arsenal as the "best team in the Premier League" and Arteta as one of the world's best managers prior to Brighton's 2-0 defeat at Arsenal in the reverse fixture in December, and the Italian has since reiterated his complementary views of the Spaniard.
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De Zerbi talks up "great manager" Arteta
Asked at a press conference on Friday if he still believes that Arsenal are the best team in the top flight, De Zerbi said: "Yes... they are one of the best, but different style to Liverpool.
"Mikel Arteta is a great manager; I have big respect for his job and his style is clear," De Zerbi added. "They always play with big intensity and with courage.
"I think they will be aggressive, and they have a clear style with and without the ball. I think it will be a good game to watch."
Discussing Brighton's targets for the remainder of the season, De Zerbi said: "We want to improve our place in the table. Last season is history, this season is completely different.
"I think we have the quality to reach the European position, but there are a lot of teams from Fulham to Manchester United who could reach the position.
"For sure we have the ambition and I am positive because I believe in my players, and I know their human qualities. There will be emotional games [against rivals for European football] and it's nice to compete against Arsenal, Newcastle, Manchester United... but we are focussed on our target."
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Arteta "very impressed" with De Zerbi's job at Brighton
Arteta has returned the favour by praising the work of De Zerbi, who has been linked with several top European clubs ahead of next season including Liverpool and Bayern Munich.
"I'm very impressed. He's a top manager with a top coaching staff," Arteta told reporters on Friday. "I think [Brighton are] an unbelievable football club, what they have done deserves incredible credit.
"The way they run the football club, the decisions they have made and how they have established themselves in the league, and now fighting with the top clubs as well, I think they've done a magnificent job.
"I think Roberto has given a very clear style and attractive way of playing football, and they make life very difficult for the opponent."
De Zerbi has a mixed head-to-head record against Arteta, as he has won and lost two games each in his previous four meetings with the Spaniard.
As well as the aforementioned reverse fixture four months ago, Brighton were condemned to defeat by Arsenal the last time that they welcomed the Gunners to the South coast in December 2022 – losing 4-2 in the Premier League.
De Zerbi's first-ever encounter with Arsenal took place a month earlier when he led Brighton to a 3-1 away victory in the EFL Cup, while he also celebrated success at the Emirates Stadium when the Seagulls won 3-0 in the top flight in May last year.
Oliver Thomas
