Mikel Arteta insists Chelsea ‘deserve’ to be competing with Arsenal for the Premier League title this season.

League leaders Arsenal boast a six-point advantage over second-placed Chelsea ahead of Sunday’s London derby at Stamford Bridge.

While Arsenal finished as runners-up for the third season in a row last year, Chelsea could only muster a fourth-placed finish.

But Enzo Maresca’s side won the Club World Cup over the summer and enjoyed another productive transfer window to bolster an already strong and deep squad in west London.

Chelsea endured a blip earlier in the season but five wins from their last six games has seen the Blues climb to second in the Premier League and seventh in the Champions League.

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