Granit Xhaka insists Arsenal can force their way back into the Premier League top four this season, but says it could be four years before they reach Liverpool’s level.

The Gunners face Tottenham at home on Sunday looking to bounce back from a disappointing 3-1 defeat at Anfield in which they were outplayed for much of the game.

Head coach Unai Emery has previously pointed to the longer period Jurgen Klopp has had to work with his players — having joined the club from Borussia Dortmund in 2015 — and Xhaka believes Arsenal need a similar spell under the Spaniard to start challenging for the title again as they bid to avoid a fourth straight year in the Europa League.

He said: “We know they [Liverpool’s players and Klopp] have been working together for three or four years.

“We had new staff last year, we are improving our way and we need some time as well. With Liverpool, the first Premier League season with Klopp was not the best. You can see how they’ve improved and how it can work if you are together more than three or four years.

“They are a good example of where we can be in three or four years but we want to make a good season this year and be back in the top four.

“We lost the game [at Anfield]. You can lose a game [sometimes] and we are not the only team that have lost there. I don’t think it was a bad game for us.

“We were good defensively, very strong. The first goal killed us a little bit before half-time but it’s the past and we want to speak about the future. We have had a great week and we know how big the game on Sunday is.”

Tottenham have won just twice in the Premier League at Arsenal — and not since a 3-2 victory in November 2010 — but finished above their north London rivals in each of the past three seasons.

The Gunners won the corresponding fixture last year 4-2 and were a missed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang penalty away from winning the reverse game at Wembley, which ended 1-1.

Xhaka believes the two sides are evenly matched.

“In the last few years, we’ve won at home and we played a good game away last season as well,” said the Switzerland midfielder.

“We want to show that on Sunday. We are close as two teams. It’s important to win this game before the international break.”