Arsenal are warned they need to ‘reel off 5 or 6 wins’ in a row to maintain their Premier League title hopes alive – as Paul Merson claims Gunners’ confidence is ‘low’

Arsenal should string collectively a run of as many as six wins in a row to maintain their slender Premier League title hopes alive, in keeping with Paul Merson.

Mikel Arteta’s aspect are 9 factors adrift of leaders Liverpool after drawing 1-1 with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and are with no win of their final 4 top-flight video games.

Gabriel Martinelli’s second-half strike appeared set to shut the hole on the summit however Pedro Neto equalised simply 10 minutes later to drive a share of the spoils. 

Arteta admitted his mounting damage disaster – which noticed Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice limp off – could also be hurting Arsenal’s consistency, a sentiment Merson agrees with. 

However the pundit additionally believes there isn’t any longer room for error.

Pedro Neto’s second-half strike compelled the Gunners to accept a 1-1 draw in opposition to Chelsea

‘It is arduous. Arsenal have a bullseye on their again, they’re a giant staff,’ Merson stated on Sky Sports activities. ‘All people desires to beat them. Confidence is a bit low at second. I did not assume it was free flowing right this moment. I believed it was a bit stop-start.

‘When your confidence goes, not all people desires the ball. 

‘While you watch Arsenal in full move, all people’s transferring. Right this moment, [Thomas] Partey will get it or Rice will get it or [Martin] Odegaard and there is not loads of choices. 

‘You see from the purpose when Odegaard nicks the ball. It is solely due to his intelligence and his imaginative and prescient. There was just one move on and that was out large. 

‘He is a intelligent footballer. He is solely good for Arsenal. 

‘They have to get on a run. They will reel off 5 or 6 wins. They’re going to have to try this.’

Arteta has rued a ‘nightmare’ eight-week interval that has seen Arsenal droop down the top-flight desk and choose up a string of accidents to first-team regulars.

‘In perspective, we had a transparent intention of how we evolve the staff and that’s about making items within the automobile extra environment friendly, and higher, extra unpredictable,’ he stated.

Paul Merson believes Arsenal may additionally be in need of confidence as accidents mount up

Gabriel Martinelli opened the scoring with a neat near-post end at Stamford Bridge

However Mikel Arteta’s aspect are actually winless in 4 within the top-flight and 9 factors behind prime spot

‘However daily have to vary one thing massive, engine, tyres, steering wheel, downside after downside. This staff has braveness and we’re very pleased with them. 

‘Now we have to get everybody bodily at their greatest.’

The extent of Saka and Rice’s setbacks usually are not but clear, probably elevating questions over their availability for England in the course of the upcoming worldwide break.