Paul Merson's bold Arsenal title race prediction ahead of 'cup final' vs Nottingham Forest

Arsenal great Paul Merson insists that every game is now a cup final for the Gunners as they try to position themselves back in the Premier League title race.

The North London club return to Premier League action this weekend when they host Nottingham Forest but a poor run of results have seen them languish behind leaders Liverpool. After draws with the Merseyside club and Chelsea as well as defeat to Newcastle, Mikel Arteta's side now sit nine points off the top spot.

Even after just 11 matches this season, that gap could be insermountable but there is still time to change the course for Arsenal. Speaking ahead of the visit of the East Midlands club to the Emirates Stadium, Merson suggested that defeat coupled with results elsewhere could end Arsenal's title push this weekend.

"If it becomes a 12-point gap between them and the league leaders, then Arsenal have no chance," Merson explained in his Sportskeeda column. They are nine points behind Liverpool now, that's why it's a cup final from here on."

Things do not get much easier for the Gunners as we speed towards the festive season with work still to be done in the Champions League too. Following Forest, Arsenal travel to Sporting in Europe before returning for a London derby with West Ham.

After that comes a visit from Manchester United who are likely to be buoyed by their new head coach Ruben Amorim before a trip to Fulham's Craven Cottage. The Gunners still have to face Liverpool and Manchester City one more time before the season's end so there is still a chance to pick up points from their title rivals.