Paul Merson admits Arsenal have to be at 100 per cent to win games with their current dip in form affecting their top four charge.
The Gunners were well placed to take the final Champions League spot a matter of weeks ago, but now face a season defining few games if they want to return to Europe's top table. Mikel Arteta's side had risen impressively following a poor start to the campaign.
But they have now suffered three losses on the bounce against Crystal Palace, Brighton and Southampton. That has allowed some of their rivals to steal a march and they head to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night needing to see off Chelsea to remain in the hunt.
Merson has seen his former side falter of late and cites their inability to pick up three points when not at their best as a major problem. He said on Sky Sports : "They were playing to their ceiling. Their players were playing until their highest potential but that seems to have dropped off a little bit.
"They are not Manchester City or Liverpool who can win games playing at 80%, they have to be at 100% to win and they have not been like that in their recent games." Merson also aired concerns about their lack of conviction in front of goal: "The hardest thing in football is to score goals. And some of those from Arsenal have been bad misses.
"But they have missed some excellent chances during the past three to four games. Again, they are playing to their ceiling and those chances were going in when they were playing at their best but it has dropped off a bit." The Gunners' top scorers this term are Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe, who have both scored 10 times.
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After the clash at Chelsea, Arsenal still have to face Tottenham and Manchester United - games that could decide whether or not they return to the Champions League for the first time since 2017. Arteta has called on his squad to unite in the final weeks of the season following their recent slump.
He said he was "very clear with why we have lost the games and then give them more support and confidence and be behind them because it is what they need and what we are going to need altogether between here and the end of the season."
The Spaniard is also clear that finishing in the top four will be another step in the club's development as they attempt to repeat the success of yesteryear. He said: "Champions League brings first of all the club much closer to where we want [to be]. To play in a competition that has a huge history and relation to our club."
