Mikel Arteta delivers shock assessment of Liverpool and Man City title challenges | OneFootball

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has warned Premier League leaders Liverpool their advantage at the top of the table will be difficult to maintain and insisted struggling Manchester City will bounce back from their recent disappointments.

The Gunners went into the season as second favourites to scoop the title after running City close last season. However, they have already slipped nine points behind Arne Slot's Reds after winning six of their first 12 league games.

Arteta's north Londoners have come up short in the last couple of title races and he claimed in his pre-match press conference that maintaining their lead will be a huge task for Liverpool.

He said: "We've been there and to sustain it for 10 months is extremely difficult. Suddenly when you think you have it, one day it collapses.

"It can be a result, through injuries or other kinds of decisions. And it can happen in any moment. We have to be ready for that.

Arsenal are back in form / Gualter Fatia/GettyImages

"But it's something we can't control. What we can control is be at our very best."

Asked if Arsenal can still catch Liverpool, the Spaniard added: "I really believe in my team, yes."

Defending champions City remain second but are without a victory in six matches across all competitions and could fall further behind if they slip to defeat in their trip to Anfield on Sunday.

Arteta said: "Everyone goes through tough times. For them, it's very strange because they haven't had one in the last nine years. This highlights the level and the environment we compete in: everything has to be almost perfect.

"What I take away is what they've done over these nine years. That's what people should talk about: how difficult it is to achieve what they've done with such consistency over such a long period."

Arsenal can cut the gap on Liverpool to six points by beating West Ham United on Saturday night before Man City visit Merseyside in Gameweek 13's curtain-closer.