Focus on Crystal Palace and not title race says Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta

LONDON – The task is clear for Arsenal when they welcome Crystal Palace for their English Premier League clash on April 23 – to stop Liverpool from claiming the title, at least for now.

The Gunners are second in the table on 66 points after 33 games, 13 points behind Arne Slot’s Reds.

What this means is that if Mikel Arteta’s men lose to Palace, they will officially hand the Premier League crown to Liverpool.

A win or a draw will prolong the title race till the weekend, when Slot’s men will need just one more victory – they next host Tottenham Hotspur on April 27.

Arteta will be keen to delay the seemingly inevitable scenario of Liverpool winning the title for a while, but the Gunners also need to focus on the Champions League.

They take on French giants Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the semi-finals at the Emirates next week.

Before that, though, they will aim to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to 12 matches.

“Let’s take the opportunity to win a game against a side with a really good record away from home. We have to prepare well,” said Arteta on April 22.

“Our incentive is to win our game and to continue. The rest (the title race) we cannot control. I am focused on the match tomorrow.

“They are a really difficult opponent. They are impressive. To get a result like this (5-1 win at Selhurst Park in December),you have to get a lot of things right.”

Asked if he would rest players for the PSG clash, he added: “We cannot think in those terms. If the players are fit and they are ready to play, then they have to play.

“Physically they are good and emotionally they are good.”

Arsenal