Leading pundits have praised Enzo Maresca’s progress at Chelsea after his side drew 1-1 with Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Gabriel Martinelli put the visitors 1-0 up on the 60th minute, but Maresca’s men rebounded shortly after with Pedro Neto firing home to bring the score level 10 minutes later.
A point apiece means both clubs occupy a top-four place in the Premier League heading into the international break, with Chelsea sitting in third and Arsenal fourth, both on 19 points but split by goal difference.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Jamie Redknapp and Graham Potter shared their thoughts on the result, what it meant for both team, and for managers Enzo Maresca and Mikel Arteta.
And given it was the first meeting of both clubs under new Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, the punditry duo said the Italian manager was likely to be the happier of the two with the result.
A Pedro Neto equaliser ended Chelsea’s Premier League fixture with Arsenal a 1-1 draw
Pundits believe Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca will be the happier of the two managers
Maresca (left) has only managed Chelsea since summer, while Mikel Arteta (right) has been at Arsenal’s helm since 2019
Arteta’s Gunners head into the international break in fourth place on 19 points
Speaking post-match Redknapp and Potter joined Paul Merson singing Maresca’s praises.
Redknapp said: ‘First half Arsenal were more confident, they’ve come from a goal behind and think will look at it as a good point today.
‘I believe Neto can be a really good player for this club. Maresca will be happier out of two managers.’
Graham Potter, a former Chelsea manager himself, agreed with Redknapp saying the result reflected a close performance on the pitch, before singling out Maresca’s impact in his first months at Stamford Bridge.
‘It was a tactical battle,’ Potter said. ‘Both teams struggled to create chances in open play.
‘Chelsea are still in a building stage, Enzo has done a brilliant job and there is clarity what you see on the pitch.
‘A new team hopefully they will be able to grow together. The project is moving forward, a hard earned point and he will be happy.
Speaking in his post-match interview, Maresca shared his thoughts on his immediate thoughts. ‘For sure we are happy where we are now, playing how we want to play,’ he said. ‘International break now is nice to recover energy and go again.’
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp said Maresca will be the ‘happier of the two managers’
Former Chelsea boss Graham Potter praised Maresca’s saying he’s done a ‘brilliant job’
When asked about Chelsea’s top-four hopes, Maresca remained tight-lipped about his team’s chances, but used the Arseenal performance – and manager Mikel Arteta’s five-year managerial tenure – as a yard stick.
‘Thinking about where we are in May is too far,’ the Italian said.
‘Absolutely we can compete, since started we are competing in every game no matter competition knowing at a club like Arsenal with same manager for years doesn’t mean we aren’t going to compete because we are Chelsea.’
