Alan Shearer fires title warning to Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta - 'I don't care who you are'

Alan Shearer insists are OUT of the title race if they lose their London derby against this Sunday.

The Gunners were one of the pre-season favourites for the crown and viewed by many as the team most likely to wrestle the title away from if the champions faltered this term.

But 's team and head into this weekend's round of fixtures some seven points behind top of the table after losing two of their last three league games.

Arsenal in the and were also , the club's influential sporting director, on Monday. And their week could go from bad to worse if they fail to avoid defeat at Stamford Bridge, according to Shearer.

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The pundit told : "Chelsea head into their match with Arsenal above the Gunners after 10 Premier League games, and though Arsenal have stumbled recently, it shows how well Enzo Maresca has done at Chelsea, especially when you include the chaotic nature at the club.

"The midfield is probably where this game with Arsenal will be won and lost. Rice and Partey against Caicedo and Lavia is a good battle because you're talking about good midfielders that enjoy handling the ball.

"The game against Chelsea is a ‘must not get beat game’ for Arsenal. I don't care who you are, the potential of sitting 10 points behind Liverpool is a lot at this level, and they can't afford too many more defeats.

Do you agree with Shearer's verdict on Arsenal and the title?

"There will be fireworks, and it wouldn't surprise me if we saw a red card or two, but I'll go for a draw on Sunday."

Arsenal legend also feels that his old club find themselves in a must-not lose situation this weekend. He was asked if defeat against Chelsea would scupper Arsenal's title hopes on CBS Sports in midweek and replied: "I think it [would] be extremely difficult.

"Why? Because you have too many teams to catch. One team can have a problem, but one or two – we’re going with Liverpool and Man City – I don’t see two teams collapsing, that’s my issue."

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