Clichy - Title bid still on

Clichy: Remains hopeful

Gael Clichy insists that Arsenal are not yet out of the title race.

Consecutive defeats to rivals Manchester United and Chelsea have hit the Gunners hard.

Now they are now nine points off the pace, ahead of yet another crucial clash on Wednesday as they prepare to face fourth-placed Liverpool.

While many are writing off Arsenal's chances. Clichy insists the Gunners are still in the hunt.

"Let's work on it, next we play against a good side in Liverpool," said Clichy.

"It's going to be difficult but we have to do it because if we want to be the best, we have to compete. We have to think game after game and it starts with Liverpool. We have to think one game at a time but the less we lose, the better it will be.

"The rule in sport is when you want to be the best, after every defeat you have to ask the right questions to yourself and the team. You have to go again and dig in. That is what we are going to start doing again in training because it is only with hard work and a bit of luck that things can happen. Maybe then we can go somewhere."

Hurt

Clichy admits the loss at Stamford Bridge on Sunday did hurt Arsenal.

"It is even more complicated now to win the league but we have to keep fighting," said the French full-back.

"We have seen everyone can drop points against anyone. Of course, it would have been better to win [against Chelsea] and against Manchester United, but that is the way it is. We need to be more decisive in the right moments and the best thing to do is to carry on fighting.

"It's not going to be easy, but it is not finished. We were 11 points behind [after Chelsea defeated Arsenal 3-0 in late November] and came back so we have to hope they drop points and make sure we don't drop any points."

Clichy also contradicted his manager Arsene Wenger, who insisted Arsenal played well at Chelsea despite the loss.

"You cannot say you played well when you lose 2-0 but we tried everything. We pushed hard but we lost and it is hard to take," he said.

"It is always difficult to play against Chelsea because even if you have the ball and you feel like you are playing better than them, they let you play but they have a strong striker up front in [Didier] Drogba, who can play alone for the 90 minutes."