Arsenal's Title Hopes Hanging by a Thread: Arteta's Shock Warning to His Stars

Arsenal are currently nine points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, with Mikel Arteta admitting that his side need to be near perfect to win the title.

The Gunners have been in impressive form this season, but the gap between them and the Reds is significant, and Arteta knows that his team need to be flawless if they are to stand any chance of catching up.

'We need to be near perfect, we need to win every game, and even then, we need Liverpool to drop points,' said Arteta in a candid interview. 'It's a big ask, but we're not giving up yet. We're going to keep pushing and see where it takes us.'

Arsenal's recent performances have been a mixed bag, with impressive wins against top sides followed by disappointing defeats to lower-ranked teams. Arteta knows that this inconsistency needs to stop if his team are to have any chance of winning the title.

'We can't keep dropping points against teams that we should be beating,' said Arteta. 'We need to be more consistent and start turning those draws into wins. We need to be more clinical in front of goal and stop making silly mistakes at the back.'

Arteta's comments will serve as a wake-up call to his players, who need to raise their game if they are to stand any chance of winning the title. The Gunners face a tough run of fixtures in the coming weeks, with games against top-four rivals and difficult away trips to lower-ranked teams.

Despite the challenges ahead, Arteta remains optimistic about his team's chances. 'We've got a talented squad and we're capable of beating anyone on our day,' said Arteta. 'We just need to put it all together and start producing consistent performances. If we can do that, then who knows what might happen.'

One thing is certain, however: Arsenal's title hopes are hanging by a thread. Arteta's warning to his players is clear: it's time to step up and start performing, or risk missing out on the Premier League title.