Arsenal not distracted by Madrid tie
Mikel Arteta says Arsenal will not be distracted by its "fascinating" upcoming UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie with Real Madrid when it faces Chelsea on Monday (AEDT).
The Gunners set up the blockbuster showdown with the 15-time champion after completing a 9-3 aggregate rout of PSV in midweek.
Before that, it shifts focus to ending a three-game winless streak in the Premier League, which has seen it fall 15 points behind leader Liverpool.
Arsenal still occupies second place, but that is now under threat from third-place Nottingham Forest and Chelsea in fourth.
On locking horns with Madrid, Arteta said: "Fascinating draw. We play the club with the biggest history in the competition. [We are] very excited to play against them, but before that, we have some big matches in the Premier League."
The Gunners are unbeaten in each of their past six Premier League meetings with the Blues, which have lost their past three league games away from Stamford Bridge.
"It's two teams that want to be very dominant in their way of playing, very aggressive in the high press and the way we have to have the ball," Arteta added.
"There is a lot of individual quality on that pitch, so it's about imposing what you want in the direction you want to take the game, and keeping them very far from their strengths. That's going to be key."
Although Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz are out for the season, Arsenal's attacking options have been boosted by the recent return of Gabriel Martinelli, while Bukayo Saka is also close to full fitness.
However, Arteta insists he will carefully manage the game time of the Brazilian, who made his comeback from injury as a substitute in last weekend's 1-1 draw with Manchester United.
"We have more options, but we have to manage the load," he said. "[Martinelli] is a little bit ahead of schedule, and we don't want to take any risks with him by loading him with more minutes.
"Saka is getting closer, he's stepping up and making very good progress. Let's see. We have to throw him into the team, see how he reacts and how fit he can get quickly."
