Arsenal need to ignore distractions amid thrilling title chase: Rice

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice stated that his team must stay focused despite discussions about Manchester City narrowing the gap at the Premier League summit following the Gunners' 1-1 draw with Brentford on Thursday.

City now trail Mikel Arteta's squad by only four points and will enjoy home advantage in their April clash.

Arsenal seek to break a 22-year drought for the championship and seemed on course for glory after extending their lead to nine points on Saturday.

Yet, City's dramatic comeback to secure a 2-1 win at Liverpool on Sunday might mark a pivotal shift in the competition.

Pep Guardiola's side kept up their drive with a 3-0 midweek triumph over Fulham, while Arsenal could not match it.

Noni Madueke put the away side ahead in west London, but Brentford equalised via Keane Lewis-Potter and nearly stole all three points in the closing 20 minutes.

"This season has been a real up and down ride. You cannot afford to underestimate the challenge," remarked the England star Rice.

"We face top opposition every week. We must continue driving forward and trusting in our abilities, focusing on what we can control.

"It is vital to tune out the external chatter. We have handled that effectively so far. Folks will hype the title battle, yet our squad remains composed.

"I do not underestimate Brentford as an easy opponent. They rank among the league's finest, as their latest results demonstrate. It is a valuable point on our path, though we aimed for the full victory."

Arteta expressed irritation over his team's loss of grip on the match after a strong restart to the second half.

"We showed a lack of poise in retaining possession and positioning wisely. We began conceding too many needless free-kicks," Arteta noted.

Arsenal's dominance in set-pieces has been key to their leading status in the race.

However, they found it tough to handle Brentford's skill from such situations.

The leveller stemmed from Michael Kayode's lengthy throw, sent into the penalty area, which Sepp van den Berg nodded on for Lewis-Potter to finish with a header.

"They excel at that aspect, so fair play to them too," Arteta added.

"They pull you into a chaotic encounter like a high-stakes gamble. All sorts can unfold, including truly unfortunate outcomes!"