• Manager says his challenge is to inspire more consistency• Arteta admits ‘possibility’ there will be no January signings
![Beating Chelsea is essential for Arsenal’s top-four hopes, says Mikel Arteta](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/e5249a69928b2ce51088cf7a0717816c3bcbf4aa/0_81_4528_2716/master/4528.jpg?width=1200&height=630&quality=85&auto=format&fit=crop&overlay-align=bottom%2Cleft&overlay-width=100p&overlay-base64=L2ltZy9zdGF0aWMvb3ZlcmxheXMvdGctZGVmYXVsdC5wbmc&enable=upscale&s=6b4179462ad908021e93af85cc05a474)
Arsenal’s ambitions of mounting a late bid for the
Champions League places are on the line at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday and Mikel Arteta admits three points against
Chelsea, followed by a sustained run of good form, are necessary if their hopes of turning a fraught season around are to be maintained.
Ten points lie between Chelsea, in fourth, and Arteta’s 10th-placed side. The head coach, whose only defeat during a month in charge has been a damaging 2-1 home reverse to the same opponents on 29 December, knows an extension of that gap would in effect kill off their top-four chances. But he also believes the present situation provides room for optimism.