Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta has admitted that the team has regressed in the Premier League this season, failing to meet up with their numbers last season.
The Gunners finished two points behind Manchester City last season but they are currently 15 points behind the newly-crowned champions with three matches to go.
Arteta’s men also earned 89 points with 91 goals, but they are on 67 points with 64 goals this season scored ahead of their final three matches.
The Gunners are expected to give Liverpool a guard of honour when both teams clash on Sunday at Anfield.
The Spanish manager admitted that the team has failed to reach the heights of last season while urging the players to use the guard of honour as a motivation to win the league next season.
He said: “In the Premier League we’ve done a step backwards. With the points that we have created, it’s clear that we haven’t done as good as last season, that’s obvious.
“Something has to drive you, motivate you, and pain for this is a good one to use, when you really want to do something. It’s the right thing to do, usually as a motivation for next season.
“They’ve been the best team, they’ve been the most consistent, and what Arne and the coaching staff have done has been fascinating, it’s been really good.
“They fully deserve it, and that’s the sport. If somebody is better, you have to accept it and try to reach that level.”
Arteta also insisted that Arsenal were the better side over the two legs in their 3-1 aggregate defeat to PSG in the Champions League.
He said: “100 per cent. I’m watching the impact, I’m watching all the stats because they were the best stats and the best goal difference in the semifinal, so it’s very clear.
“When you look at the important stats that normally give you the best platform to win football matches, it’s crystal clear who was better.”
The Gunners boss reiterated his desire to sign a striker while admitting that it is difficult to get a quality striker in the transfer market.
Arteta said: “Do I have to make it more clear? In January it was clear or not? I told you because you were in the room I think many times and it was a very clear statement. The statement continues the same.”
He was asked if signing a a top striker was difficult to achieve.
Arteta continued: “Probably they are because there’s not that many that put those numbers [up]. It’s something that’s in the stats. There’s not that many in the Premier League.
“I will try to improve but certainly improve the ones that we have right now and love the ones that we have right now.
“Especially after losing it’s too easy to just go and look elsewhere and don’t use the moment to judge players especially.
Arsenal have been linked with the likes of Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko, Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyökeres and Newcastle’s Alexander Isak ahead of a busy summer.
The Gunners will take on Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday with the hopes of consolidating the second position with Man City breathing down their neck.
