A defiant Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal will not stop fighting for the Premier League title, despite falling 11 points behind Liverpool.
The Gunners suffered a 1-0 home defeat to West Ham United on Saturday, but will hope to bounce back when they visit third-placed Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.
Arsenal would need to make history to win the title, since no Premier League team have ever blown a lead of at least 11 points at the top with as few as 11 matches remaining.
But Arteta told the club’s official website: “I’m not going to stop - over my dead body that we stop thinking that way and putting everything we possibly can to increase that probability of us winning, being better than the opponent and hitting that performance, those standards constantly, regardless of what happens.
"Mathematically it is possible. Three days ago we could close a gap and you are like 'you are one-and-a-half games away'.
"The difficulty is higher than three days ago but if you are going to win the Premier League you have to do something special.
"If you are going to win the Premier League with the circumstances we have you will probably have to do something that nobody else has done in the history of the Premier League."
Merson: Arsenal are not far off Liverpool
Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson says the club's extensive injury list has hugely undermined their chances of winning the league, stating that the Gunners are not far off Liverpool when everyone is fit.
The continued absence of forwards Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz - plus Gabriel Jesus - has forced Arteta to play midfielder Mikel Merino as a No 9 in recent weeks.
"They are not far off Liverpool long term," Merson told Sky Sports. "Arsenal have got massive injuries. You take them three players out... I mean, I look at it on Saturday. You'd probably take the front three of West Ham on Saturday over Arsenal's front three.
"This week, this Wednesday, you 100 per cent take the front three at Forest. They'd all get into the Arsenal team this week, this midweek - all of them - and this is where it is. They have bad injuries.
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Liverpool
LIV
|
27 | +38 | 64 |
| 2 |
Arsenal
ARS
|
26 | +28 | 53 |
| 3 |
Nott'm Forest
NFO
|
26 | +11 | 47 |
| 4 |
Man City
MCI
|
26 | +15 | 44 |
"They're not a million miles behind Liverpool. There's hardly anything in it. When you've got those kinds of injuries, it's just difficult.
"If they had Saka, Havertz and Martinelli as their front three, the gap would be a lot shorter than what it is now. There's no getting away from that. I was flabbergasted Merino started up front again. You've got to play [Raheem] Sterling. I know Sterling hasn't pulled up any trees.
"Liverpool will win the league but the gap will close. I'm not sure if Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold renew [their contracts]. I don't see it. If they don't sign, then that's it. It becomes a right leveller.
"So, I don't think Arsenal have to do much. I think Liverpool have to try and do what they've got to do. I wouldn't be worried about Arsenal. Arsenal have missed out because they've been injured."
