Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal are "not going to stop" fighting for the Premier League title, as he issued a warning to leaders Liverpool after closing the gap to four points.

With the Reds not in action until Sunday - four days after they were held to a 2-2 draw by rivals Everton - the Gunners took full advantage with a 2-0 victory over Leicester City.

Mikel Merino climbed off the bench to score twice in the final 10 minutes at the King Power Stadium, and secure Arsenal's 10th league win during a 15-match unbeaten run.

Runners-up to Manchester City in each of the last two seasons, Arteta and his players are hoping for a favour from Wolves when they travel to Anfield to face Arne Slot's side.

Nevertheless, the Spaniard insists the Gunners are only focused on what they can control with 13 games remaining, as they aim to go the extra step this time around.

"We really want it," he told TNT Sports. "Regardless of what happens or the difficulties we're going to face, we're going to give this a real go.

"The team wants it, we've had seven or eight months working on that. We're not going to stop. Let's see how far we can go!

"It's a decent week. Let's see what happens. We can only do what's in our control. But you come to any ground and it's a nightmare. It's difficult, you have to be at your best to win. It's going to be a long run."

Arteta also paid tribute to super sub Merino who, after replacing the ineffective Leandro Trossard, was operating as a makeshift forward in the absence of Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.

"[I told him] that he was going to score. He's a real goal threat," the Arsenal boss added. "The moment they started moving deeper and we were more set in the final third, we thought he could deliver those moments.

"But it's easier to say it than get it done. Mikel has never played as a nine. But he has that timing, he can smell danger, anticipate danger. And then, he can execute it.

"It was a lot of debate. I didn't want to drive him crazy. I said to him this morning that he might play there. We believe he could sit there if the game needed the context. He won the game for us."