Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has praised Chelsea boss Frank Lampard for the job he has done in his first season as head coach at Stamford Bridge.
Lampard returned to the club one year ago, replacing the outgoing Maurizio Sarri after the Italian spent just one season with the Blues.
The appointment raised a few eyebrows, with Lampard having had just one season as a manager, leading Derby County to the Championship play-off final last season.
However, the Chelsea legend has proved his doubters wrong. In his first campaign back at the club, the Blues have qualified for the Champions League and made it to the FA Cup final despite enduring a transfer ban last summer and losing Eden Hazard to Real Madrid.
That FA Cup final takes place at Wembley Stadium on Saturday when Chelsea face London rivals Arsenal in a repeat of last year’s Europa League final.
Ahead of the game, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media and has delivered his verdict on Lampard.
"Frank as a player - absolutely top,” he said.
“I think the consistency that he was able to play for that many years in the position he plays in such a big club and doing what he did, it was incredible. Big credit to him on that.
“As a manager, he's showed since he went to Derby the type of person [he is], the ambition that he has and the way that he encourages his team to play. Again, this season, he's done a really good job.
“They've done a lot of things right this year and I think Frank has evolved their team in a really positive way and you can see the results that they've been having."
Chelsea go into the final as favourites, having finished the season in fourth place in the Premier League table compared to Arsenal’s eighth place finish.
