Mikel Merino said Arsenal are not thinking about the Premier League title after falling nine points behind leaders Liverpool.

Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge saw Mikel Arteta’s side lose further ground at the top as their winless run in the league extended to four matches.

Runners-up in each of the last two seasons, the team had been tipped to go one better and end a 21-year wait to be crowned champions but those odds have lengthened by the week since last tasting a victory on October 5.

A second-half rocket from Chelsea’s Pedro Neto cancelled out Gabriel Martinelli’s opener to leave little margin for error when the league resumes after the international break.

“Personally I don’t think about the title,” said Merino, a second-half replacement for Declan Rice who played despite suffering from a broken toe.

“Right now we’re at a moment where we have to think about the next step, the next training session, the next game and don’t look too much ahead of ourselves.

“The small steps are the ones that are going to build the long run.”