As Liverpool takes on Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final, Arsenal could cut the gap in the Premier League table to 12 points as the Gunners take on Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium.
But center-back William Saliba has admitted that there is a “big gap” between the sides, who will have nine matches left to play each after this weekend. The Frenchman has offered an honest assessment with manager Mikel Arteta still refusing to give up hopes — publicly at least — of catching up.
“If they [Liverpool] are first, it is because they did something that we didn’t do,” Saliba said during a press conference. “Of course there is a big gap. We have to keep going. They are so good as well.
“I think this season, we don’t deserve to be at the top. We have to keep going. We are second and there is a Champions League as well. We will push.”
Arsenal has not won a Premier League game for a month, losing 1-0 at home to West Ham United and then drawing with both Nottingham Forest and Manchester United. In that period, the Gunners have progressed to the Champions League quarter-finals by beating PSV and will take on Real Madrid.
Last weekend, Mikel Arteta stormed out of an interview when he was asked if the gap to Liverpool was too large. And Roy Keane slammed Arsenal for drawing too many fixtures.
(Image: Sky Sports)
“I’m sure there would’ve been frustration from the last few years when they didn’t get over the line and didn’t get themselves a cup,” Keane said on Sky Sports. “And then you’ve the injuries, and then you saw the manager there [in the interview with Davison], he certainly looks frustrated even though the title was gone a few weeks ago.
“But he would still want his club and his team to show great mentality, to come here (Old Trafford) and try and keep some sort of pressure on Liverpool. But over the last two or three games that’s gone now. We’ve mentioned it earlier, [Arsenal’s] biggest concern is [now] what’s happening with the teams behind them. They’ve lost that momentum for the season.
“I think what we saw today was nowhere near good enough. They’ve set really high standards over the last few years so on one hand you want to give them credit, but we always say the next step is the hardest step in terms of trying to win a league title.”
Liverpool.com says: Arsenal went into this season thinking that it would have a good chance of winning the title. Without enough attacking options, though, it was always going to be hard. Liverpool, assuming it does get over the line, will be a worthy winner.
