Cesc Fabregas says that Mikel Arteta’s job at Arsenal is “much harder” than Frank Lampard’s at Chelsea as he assessed the situation at both of his former Premier League clubs on the division’s return.

The Blues are back in top-flight action when they face Aston Villa at Villa Park on Sunday, and head into the Premier League’s comeback matches in fourth place in the table and hoping to secure a Champions League spot for next season.

Arsenal meanwhile are in ninth, and face a real fight to secure European football of any kind in the new campaign as the pay the price for a disjointed season which began with Unai Emery in charge,

Arteta is the man in charge now, but Fabregas thinks the Gunners boss has a bigger rebuilding job on his hands than the one Lampard is looking to oversee at Stamford Bridge, principally because he only joined in December.

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“Chelsea took a gamble with Frank because it was only his second year as a main coach and he’s done very well. With Mikel it’s a little bit of the same,” Fabregas told The Guardian.

“He’s been with Pep [Guardiola] for three years, and I’m sure he’s like a master for any young coach that wants to start being a manager.

“I think he’s done well [so far] and I’m sure he’s brought back some values to the club that was needed.

“Obviously it’s a much harder job than Chelsea in terms of rebuilding the squad, and they are very young, and they had problems because [Arteta] started much further down the line than Chelsea, but I’m positive that they will pick up very soon and that next season could be the one for them.”

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