Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, has said he “respects” Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp’s opinion that only Manchester City are the only team, who are guaranteed to be in the title race.

Ahead of the new season, Klopp admitted that his team can only challenge City, who he rates as the favourites to retain their crown. “Nobody besides maybe City can have the real target to become champions again this year,” he said, adding: “All the other teams fight for the Champions League and that’s what we do as well. The earlier you qualify for the Champions League, the higher you are in the table. If you are second and in striking distance to first then you might have a chance. I don’t know who will be there.”

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Reacting to Klopp’s comments, Arteta said ahead of their Community Shield clash with Man City on Sunday: “I respect that. They’ve shown their consistency over the years and they merit that respect from everybody for what they’ve done,” adding “If you want to challenge for that championship you know the total points that you’re going to be needing and that’s unheard of in this league for the last 100 years. So that’s the standard and if you want to be there, you know what you have to do.”

While the Gunners finished second behind Man City last season, the Reds endured a poor campaign, finishing fifth in the league and failing to win any silverware.