Mikel Arteta has passed on his best wishes to Enzo Maresca and credits the manager with doing a ‘terrific job’ at Chelsea.
Chelsea dropped the bombshell news that Maresca had left his role as head coach on New Year’s Day, with the Club World Cup holders sitting fifth in the Premier League table.
The Blues had enjoyed a promising start to the 2025/26 campaign and were being tipped as genuine contenders for the Premier League title alongside Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa.
But Maresca pointed to an apparent lack of support he was receiving at Stamford Bridge after Chelsea’s victory over Everton last month – and a run of just two wins in the club’s last nine matches in all competitions ratcheted up the pressure on the Italian.
Maresca’s abrupt departure – after 18 months in charge – came just three days out from the side’s clash with Manchester City and Under-21 boss Calum McFarlane has taken over the reins on a temporary basis ahead of the trip to the Etihad.
Strasbourg head coach Liam Rosenior is believed to be the leading candidate for the hot seat in west London, with the hunt underway for the seventh manager of the Todd Boehly era.
Maresca’s Chelsea held Arsenal to a 1-1 draw back in late November, despite losing Moises Caicedo to a red card – one of only five games in which the Gunners have dropped points in the top flight this term.
Reacting to Maresca’s sudden exit ahead of Arsenal’s match against Bournemouth, Arteta told reporters: ‘I wish him all the best.
‘I really like Enzo as a person, as a professional. I think he’s done a terrific job at Chelsea.
‘That’s the decision that has been made and I just wish him all the best.’
The mood at Chelsea could not be more different to the atmosphere felt inside the Arsenal camp heading into their trip to the south coast to face Bournemouth this weekend.
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Arteta’s men are targeting a fifth straight win in the Premier League having swept title rivals Villa aside with a comprehensive 4-1 victory last time.
Asked what the feeling is like within his squad, Arteta replied: ‘It was very good, obviously, after the game against really tough opposition.
‘To perform and to win in the manner that we did, it was great.
‘Now we focus on Bournemouth. We know how tough it’s going to be, tomorrow’s game, and everybody is at it.’
Bournemouth did the double over Arsenal last season, winning 2-0 at home before coming away from the Emirates with a shock 2-1 victory to put a major dent in the Gunners’ title hopes.
‘We learned a lot. They were two very different games,’ Arteta said of the sides’ two contests last term.
‘William Saliba got surprisingly sent off [at the Vitality Stadium] and after that it was a different game. We managed some chances but we managed to lose the game.
‘At home, the display was very dominant and that ended up in a really poor way for us.
‘So a lot to learn, huge respect for them. I know Iraola really well and what he’s doing is incredible.
‘I’ve been watching all the games they play this season and, against the top sides, how difficult they made it and how they haven’t got results against them as well… difficult to understand.’
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