After a winless streak, Mikel Merino called on Arsenal to focus on each game and the return of Martin Odegaard is a bright spot for the team.

Mikel Merino says Arsenal are no longer thinking about winning the Premier League after falling nine points behind Liverpool.

A 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea left Arsenal trailing behind, extending their winless run in the Premier League to four games. Mikel Arteta’s side, runners-up for the last two seasons, had been tipped to win the title for the first time in 21 years, but those hopes have dimmed as Arsenal have not tasted victory since 5 October.

Merino and his teammates are in trouble.

Chelsea’s Pedro Neto equalised in the second half after Gabriel Martinelli’s opener, leaving Arsenal with little room for error as the league resumed after the international break. Merino, who replaced Declan Rice despite suffering a toe injury, said: ” Personally, I’m not thinking about the title right now. We have to focus on every little step, every training session and every game without thinking too much about the long term.”

With 14 points dropped after 11 games, Arsenal are in deep trouble. In recent seasons, teams have needed at least 90 points to win the title, but on current form, Arsenal are facing a huge challenge to reach that mark. However, last season they enjoyed an impressive run of form, winning 16 of their final 18 games since January, which still offers some hope.

Merino remains positive: “I am optimistic and hope we can get better results. We should not look at the negative side, but focus on how we want to play.” He stressed that the team should not put undue pressure on themselves but instead focus on each game to maintain their form.

One bright spot in the squad was the return of Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard after a long-term ankle injury. Odegaard assisted Martinelli’s opener in the game. Merino also stressed the importance of Odegaard’s return: “When Martin Odegaard is on the pitch, we are a stronger team. We need every player to be at their best, not just Odegaard, to achieve positive results for the rest of the season.”