Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has said that he expects Arsenal to "fight until the end" in the Premier League title race this season.
The Gunners overcame a losing start to take 10 points from the last 12 available in the Premier League, lifting them up to fourth in the table.
It has been some time since the club launched a genuine title challenge, but Conte expects them to be there or thereabouts at the end of the campaign.
"I'm sure that Arsenal will fight until the end to win the title because they're a very good team, [with] young players, great technique, good players with good physical potential and organisation," he told reporters.
"When there are these types of games, they're very tough. It's not necessary to push any player. These big games give great emotion and great expectation. For this reason the players are already motivated.
"[Chelsea] can improve a lot. It's normal that, when you start work with a new team, and you bring a new idea or method of football, you need a bit of time. But I'm confident about this. We trust in the work. I know that we can improve a lot."
Chelsea travel to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday knowing that a victory would see them leapfrog their London rivals in the table.
Barney Corkhill
