Mikel Arteta has admitted that he knew Arsenal would fall short in the Premier League title race before the season even started.
The Gunners, whose exit from the Champions League last week confirmed yet another season without silverware at the Emirates, are primed to finish second in the Premier League for the third straight campaign following Liverpool's title triumph.
The Reds, who host Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday, won the Premier League with seven games remaining as Arteta's side continued to drop points while focusing on Champions League knockout ties with PSV, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.