Mikel Arteta reveals strong thoughts on Todd Boehly's Chelsea project
- Mikel Arteta backs Todd Boehly era to deliver for Chelsea
- Blues criticised over a lack of competitiveness on the pitch
- Belief that a big budget will ultimately make them a success
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is "convinced" that Todd Boehly will make Chelsea a success, despite the club's struggles to be competitive in the first two seasons since the BlueCo takeover.
Having spent enormous sums overhauling the squad since 2022, Chelsea finished 12th in the Premier League in 2022/23 and have spent most of the current campaign in the bottom half again. But a recent upturn has suddenly left the Blues within striking distance of the top six.
Cole Palmer, the first Chelsea player to score 20 goals in a Premier League season since Diego Costa in 2016/17 and the club's first Englishman to do so since Frank Lampard in 2009/10, is spearheading a young squad with plenty of potential if nurtured well.
Arteta has transformed Arsenal in the last few years and has backed Mauricio Pochettino, with the support of Boehly's vast budget, to do similar at Stamford Bridge.
"I am convinced they will [be a success]. With that squad, yes. And with the manager they have," Arteta commented ahead of facing the Blues on Tuesday evening.
"If you look at the history of the Premier League, in the last 20 years, [teams at the top] are the ones that have spent the most. There is a big relation [between success and spending], depending on how you look at it," he added, most likely referencing Manchester City's dominance.
"They will have their vision and be very clear in how they want to get there."
Last month, the Chelsea Supporters' Trust stated that the mood among fans is at its lowest since the club's struggles of the early 1980s and that many have "significant concerns about the future of our club" due to a lack of communication or public-facing vision from the hierarchy.
"The views of a quiet few became a vocal expression of a larger number of Chelsea supporters present at the [Brentford] game," a message from the CST warned.
"Much of our recent dialogue with supporters reveals a lack of belief in the decision-makers at the top of our club. The current mood amongst supporters is critically low and cannot be ignored. The feeling that the club has become a 'laughing stock', both on and off the pitch, is growing.
"The Chelsea Supporters' Trust regretfully believes that we are close to, if not already experiencing, a significant shift in supporter opinion that could result in irreversible toxicity, almost irrespective of results on the pitch. Unless the situation improves, this seems likely to manifest itself in more targeted chanting, especially at televised games, and quite possibly more organised, overt, and impactful forms of protest by some sections of the fanbase."
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