Arsenal given two-game warning as Mikel Arteta discovers Premier League title reality

Former Manchester United assistant manager Rene Meulensteen believes Arsenal could be out of the title race if they lose just two more games this season.

Mikel Arteta's side have been Manchester City's closest Premier League title challengers in recent seasons. The Gunners have finished runners up to Pep Guardiola's dominant team in each of the past two campaigns.

It was expected that Arsenal would kick on again this season and potentially go one step further by winning a first league title since 2004. But injuries to key players have played a role in them dropping nine points behind league leaders Liverpool after 12 games, putting their title bid in serious jeopardy.

However, Meulensteen has shared his belief that there is no need for Arteta's side to panic even if their title aspirations are currently on shaky ground. "In the last two seasons Arsenal have had to experience massive disappointment," he said via tribalfootball.

"But they showed great resilience coming back last season and going so close until the last few games of the season. This season they have fallen away a little bit and suffered so many injuries, but they can still turn this around because they do have a lot of character.

"The experience of the last two seasons will help them. They need to stay calm, not to panic and hope that Liverpool and Manchester City slip up which will allow them to make ground at the top of the table.

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"It’s still before Christmas and there are so many games left to play. Having said that, you’d think that if they lost another two games that might be too much to make up.

"They need to hope that Manchester City continue their blip and that Liverpool’s form doesn’t continue. I don’t think there will be one team running away with it this season."

Arsenal travel to Sporting in the Champions League on Tuesday before returning to Premier League action away at West Ham on Saturday.

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It is going to be an interesting summer at the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal look to make changes and give Mikel Arteta the squad to overhaul Manchester City and win the Premier League title.

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