Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has warned Liverpool that his side will ‘be there’ if the Reds slip up in the Premier League title race.

The Gunners are currently nine points off the league leaders but play twice before Liverpool is next in action, meaning that gap could be cut to three by the time Manchester United travels to Anfield on Sunday.

Arsenal has pushed reigning champions Manchester City close in each of the last two years and, although currently third in the table, looks best placed to mount a challenge to Liverpool's title prospects in the second half of the campaign.

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Asked ahead of Wednesday’s clash against Brentford how hard it will be to catch Arne Slot’s side, Arteta replied: “I don't know and that doesn't depend on us. We have to continue to be like a hammer, be there every day, every day, every day.

"And, I mean, if somebody wins all the matches, congratulate him and let's go to the next season. But if they don't, which in history hasn't happened, we'll be there."

Despite being so far off the leaders, Arteta insisted his side have grown compared to last season. “We’ve proved that already this season, I’m sure of that,” said the ex-Everton midfielder.

“If this had happened last season – the number of games we’ve played with 10 men [after red cards], the injuries in the squad, for sure it would be difficult to be in the stages of the competitions we are in now.

“So, for sure, the team has made another step. The team is evolving and adapting to new circumstances and now we have another one with more games with less players. So let’s face it.”

Meanwhile, Gary Neville was among those to claim Arsenal could provide the biggest opposition to Liverpool in the second half of the season.

“Things are going against Arsenal in this moment in time, and they’re hanging in there, but they’re the only team that can take it off Liverpool,” the ex-United defender said earlier this week.

“I think Arsenal have got a resilience to them, they have got a back four that can hold it together and get through games, and I do think they’ll attack better in the next part of the season. I think they’ll hang in there, and if they can just get close towards the end, it could be that they can hunt Liverpool down.”