Mikel Arteta has admitted Liverpool's form this season means Arsenal must be near-perfect if it is to catch up. As it stands, the Reds are eight points ahead of Manchester City and nine points above the Gunners.
This weekend, Arsenal travels to West Ham United while Liverpool hosts Manchester City. In a best-case scenario for Arne Slot, his side could be at least 11 points clear of the chasing pack. Lose this weekend, though, with the other two teams likely to stay the course of the campaign winning, and the gap would only be five points.
"Winning lifts the energy and the confidence up," Arteta said in his pre-game press conference today. "They were two big wins as well for us [3-0 vs Nottingham Forest and 5-1 vs Sporting Lisbon].
"And now it’s about consistency. Getting that momentum that we are in, take it even further against a really good opponent tomorrow and try to replicate the performance to win the game."
In some respects, though, Arsenal is relying on favors from elsewhere. In addition to it needing to go on a winning run, it also needs Liverpool to drop points in at least three matches to come back into contention.
(Image: 2024 The Arsenal Football Club Plc)
"Well if they continue that way, that’s for sure," Arteta admitted when asked if Arsenal now needs near-perfection in terms of results because of Liverpool. "The numbers they’re producing, the amount of games they are winning… but again, it’s just about focusing on us.
"Maintaining the consistency, especially in performances, that’s going to give us the right to win a lot of games. Keep the availability in the squad, keep everybody together. And this [season] is a long run."
Liverpool.com says: Neither Arsenal nor Manchester City are out of the title picture yet. Liverpool leads the way but will not be taking anything for granted. Slot's men, though, have a major advantage that it needs to make the most of.