As Arne Slot was laying out what needs to happen before his side can even start thinking about a title race, it was hard to shake the sense that you'd heard this all before. Not, it should be noted, from Slot himself. Before this almighty slide, he had never had to set his team the target of "result after result after result."

In doing so, however, he cast this particular mind (London warped, watches too much Arsenal ) back 364 days to what seemed to be the all too early end point of another title challenge. Mikel Arteta had just seen his side cede further ground to the leaders with a 2-2 draw at Chelsea . He too insisted now was not the time to discuss a title race that so many had expected them to be key riders in, that all his side could do from here on out was "win, win, win, win,

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