Mikel Arteta knows Arsenal must win silverware to be compared with Invincibles

Mikel Arteta has insisted his Premier League title-chasing Arsenal side can only be mentioned in the same breath as the Invincibles if they start winning major trophies.

The Gunners host Liverpool on Thursday – a pivotal fixture in which Arteta declared his team have a “point to prove” – sitting at the top of the table.

Manchester City will have the chance to reduce the deficit to just three points when they face Brighton at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.

Arsenal, runners-up for the past three seasons, last won the title in 2004 when Arsene Wenger’s team went undefeated in an historic campaign.

Arteta’s players have amassed two more points and scored four more goals than the Invincibles did after 20 matches.

But speaking on the eve of his side’s contest against the champions, Arteta, when asked if his squad is as good as Wenger’s 2004 team, replied: “No, because the Invincibles won a lot.

“They won consistently, and they created a history and a legacy, and we have to do that.

“There are a lot of stats, but in the last two or three years we have managed more points and more goals than ever before. But at the end, we have to translate that to major trophies.

“Probably doing what we are doing now would have been enough (in 2004), but now it’s not, and we have to make the margins even bigger.”

Arteta’s sole trophy from his six years in charge remains Arsenal’s FA Cup triumph in 2020.

But the north London team are in a rich vein of form – winning their last five league matches – while they have dropped just two points at the Emirates Stadium all season.

Arteta will also be seeking revenge for their 1-0 defeat against Liverpool at Anfield on the final day of August – a result that some felt at the time would derail their title ambitions.

The Spaniard, whose side head into Thursday’s fixture 14 points clear of the Merseyside club, added: “It’s a massive game against the champions and we have a point to prove.

“We have to prove that we can go again and again. We had it a few days ago against Bournemouth, after a great win against Aston Villa, and it’s going to continue like that. They are a superb team.”

Riccardo Calafiori, Cristhian Mosquera and Max Dowman all remain sidelined for the visit of Arne Slot’s side, but Kai Havertz could be in the squad.

The Germany forward has not played since the opening day of the campaign following knee surgery.

Havertz’s imminent return will bolster Arteta’s attacking options, with Viktor Gyokeres on a run of nine matches without a goal from open play.

“We are monitoring Kai’s situation and his load,” Arteta said.

“He has been out for a long time. He’s very close, he trained (on Wednesday morning) again, and hopefully we’re going to have him available and have the best version of Kai Havertz.”