Mikel Arteta: Arsenal can't afford any more slip-ups in Premier League title race

Mikel Arteta has acknowledged Arsenal can ill-afford any more slip-ups in the Premier League title race.

Manchester City's impressive win at Newcastle last weekend sent an ominous warning to the chasing pack, but Pep Guardiola's holders are only second in the table behind Liverpool.

Arsenal battled to a 1-1 draw at Anfield before Christmas and yet trail Liverpool by five points after a poor festive period.

The Gunners welcome Crystal Palace to the Emirates on Saturday on a three-match losing streak in all competitions and Arteta insisted his young squad have to rediscover their consistency quickly.

“We better start to pick up points that is for sure, if we want it be up there, to start to have consistently three points on the board. We know that at this level, you cannot have more slip-ups at this level,” Arteta said.

“We want to cut that (lead) as quick as possible and every time you lose, the next most important thing is to win. We have not managed to do that and that is the reality and we have to face it.

“We have done a lot of things to try to do that and to produce as much as possible in the games and as little as possible from the opponent, which has happened, but in the end you have to win the games and that hasn’t happened.”

A 2-0 loss at home to Liverpool in the FA Cup third round at the start of this month provided a sense of groundhog day for Arsenal.

Arsenal squandered several opportunities, which had also been the chase in a defeat to West Ham at the end of December, before they were made to pay by Jurgen Klopp's men.

Arteta has watched his team score only five times during a poor seven-match run where they have claimed one victory in all competitions.

He added: “You look at all the data and it is Arsenal,