Arne Slot’s Liverpool need just 11 points to win the Premier League after Arsenal was held to a 1-1 draw by Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday.
The maximum number of points the Gunners can finish this season is 83 should they win their remaining seven games after Iliman Ndiaye’s penalty before the half-time break canceled Leandro Trossard’s 34th-minute opener. The Reds could clinch the title in four games if they beat Fulham on Sunday, followed by West Ham, Leicester, and Tottenham at Anfield on April 27, scooping 12 points.
However, Liverpool could scoop a 20th top-flight title earlier. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has suffered several injuries to crucial players, with center-back Gabriel the latest. The Brazilian’s absence could see the Gunners falter in their next couple of games, reducing the number of points the Reds need to be crowned champion.
Nonetheless, Arteta says his team has the personnel to cover themselves, which could help keep the pressure on Liverpool. “We’ve come so far and now we have the most important, beautiful part of the season,” Arteta said ahead of the game with Everton.
“We have to react to those things, and that means that other players are going to have opportunities to play and the team has to find other ways. It is a big miss undoubtedly, but we have the resources to cope with that.”
Arsenal was also boosted by the return of main man Bukayo Saka. The England international missed several games with a hamstring injury. The Gunners also have to focus on their Champions League quarter final tie with Real Madrid. Arteta has also insisted that morale remains high in the camp despite their Premier League title hopes fading by the week.
(Image: Getty)
“I can talk about what I’ve seen there, and the feeling I have, me personally, every time I wake up in the morning, that I’m desperate to go through those doors and start to share our day with everybody; the staff, players and everybody around the club,” he added. “That’s a privilege that’s been built between all of us and hopefully will be sustained for many years.”
Arteta has also conceded that he may have to lighten the training workload, with his team suffering several injuries, particularly with hamstrings. “We can do. The sample is very, very small because last year we were the best team in that aspect, so we’ll continue with the same methodology and alter things,” Arteta said.
“It’s true that this season where we started with a really short squad with some already injured players in the first two international weeks that really narrowed the team so much. That put more load on players, but that’s the context that we are in.”
