Mikel Arteta has challenged his Arsenal squad to ensure it finishes second in an apparent concession of the Premier League title.
The Gunners have taken just two points from their last three Premier League games, with Liverpool now having a 15 point lead at the top of the table. With Arne Slot's men in Carabao Cup action this weekend, that gap can be reduced if Arsenal beats Chelsea at the Emirates.
However defeat for the home side would see Chelsea close within two points, while victories for Nottingham Forest and Manchester City this weekend would put Arsenal back in the fight for a Champions League place.
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Arsenal has finished second to Manchester City in the last two seasons and Arteta has warned his side must not let their season peter out. On the challenge that awaits against Chelsea, he said: "Chelsea is a contender to finish second. I think from the moment I was playing pre-season and understanding how Enzo works and the talent he has in the squad, in my opinion, it could have even won the title.
"I think Chelsea can compete with any team. How many teams are now competing for second? A lot. There are still games to go. There's still a lot of variation, a lot of games between us, a lot of difficult games. There's a lot of teams still involved."
When questioned about the importance of finishing second if Champions League football is already guaranteed, the Spaniard responded: "It does. I prefer to finish first than second, second than third, third than fourth. And if you cannot be the best, be the second best at least. That's for sure."
Arteta has his eyes on the future, noting that the upcoming fixtures are crucial for understanding Arsenal's needs for another title bid. "We're going to really have to think hard to understand 'okay what is missing, what is really working and how we're going to now make the next step'," he remarked.
Reflecting on last season's 5-0 demolition of Chelsea, Arteta anticipates a different challenge this time around. "I think it's going to be a very different game and I think the way Chelsea develops as a team as well is very impressive," he said.
"What Enzo has done and the coaching staff, the amount of talent that they have in the squad. So yeah, a really tough match but we are our best as well, a big chance for us to win the game."
