Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has conceded that his side cannot contemplate winning the Premier League title this season as they are too far adrift of Manchester City.
The Gunners are down in fifth place after losing 3-1 to Manchester United last weekend, leaving them 15 points behind the leaders with 23 games left to play.
Ahead of Sunday's meeting with Southampton on the south coast, Wenger admits that any talk of his side ending their long-running wait for title success - which stretches into a 15th year - is currently unrealistic.
"At the moment we have different worries than the title," he told reporters. "After such disappointment, you have to think about winning the next game.
"We are too far from the title at the moment to speak about the title. It's not realistic. Let's try to win our next game and over a longer distance see if we can come back."
Arsenal also face West Ham United, Newcastle United and Liverpool before Christmas, while Man City visit the Emirates Stadium in February.
Daniel Lewis
