Mikel Arteta declared Arsenal “alive” in the Premier League title race but was left with mixed emotions after they dropped more points following a pulsating 2-2 draw at home to Liverpool.

The Gunners were without captain Martin Odegaard, William Saliba and Riccardo Calafiori, but Bukayo Saka returned to start and scored along with Mikel Merino in the first half to put them 2-1 up after Virgil van Dijk’s 18th-minute leveller.

However, Arteta was dealt further fitness blows as Gabriel Magalhaes limped off before Jurrien Timber had to be replaced and a makeshift back-four wilted as Mohamed Salah’s first-time finish after 81 minutes snatched a point for Arne Slot’s men.

“I’m very disappointed that we haven’t won the game today,” Arteta said.

“Very proud of the team, especially with the situation we are going through at the moment – probably you cannot imagine.

“I think in the first half it was total domination, we were really good, really dominant, really efficient and the result probably should have been bigger.

“Without conceding nothing basically, we gave two goals away. That’s the really frustrating part and that we couldn’t see the game out.”

The biggest winner was arguably Manchester City, who end the weekend back at the summit, a point clear of Liverpool and five ahead of Arsenal.

Arteta, who was unsure of the severity of Gabriel and Timber’s injuries, acknowledged: “You don’t want to be in that position. You want to be five points ahead but this is where we are.

“The team is alive, the team wants it. I feel it every single day. The players that cannot play, they are upset that they are not playing. The ones getting injured, the ones that are there, they are in a good moment.

“Things will turn up and we are going to be in a better place, but we are certainly there.

“I see the team and I have no doubts. I think I told you three days before that we are going to be flying on Sunday and we started flying and were the better team by far.

“We needed to get the points today to make a reflection of where we are and where we want to be. We couldn’t do it but for sure we are there.”

Slot was happy despite Liverpool’s eight-match winning streak being halted in north London.

“Going two times behind against a very strong and good Arsenal team, then to get a point is pleasing to see,” he said.

“I know you guys like to talk about title contenders and where we are exactly in the league. That is also part of your job.

“The only thing I look at is can you get a result in a difficult away game as this one? The way we did it pleased me a lot.

“We’re only nine or 10 games into the season, but to see we can compete with such a strong Arsenal team, in their stadium, that is very pleasing to see.

“But where it exactly will lead towards the end of the season? I cannot tell you yet.”

Slot was not as impressed with Anthony Taylor’s decision to show him a second-half yellow card, but saw the funny side at full-time.

He added: “Last time (against Chelsea) I said I completely deserve the yellow card and this time I don’t think I did.

“After so many times they were on the floor, which can happen in football and I don’t blame them for that, but they always fell down after they had ball possession and it took the energy out of the game in my opinion.

“I said to Ibou (Ibrahima Konate), ‘this is a f****** joke’ and the fourth official thought I said to him, ‘you are a f****** joke’, so that is definitely not what I said. But I got a yellow and now I am on two, so I have to be careful.”