Wenger remains upbeat on top-4 finish for Arsenal
Source: Agencies |
April 30, 2013, Tuesday
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ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger believes that if his team wins its last three English Premier League games it will qualify for the Champions League, but both Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur could yet scupper his hopes.
If Chelsea takes at least nine points from its last four games, it will finish on 74 points. If Spurs win their four remaining games, they would also finish on 74 points.
However, even if Arsenal won its remaining games against relegated Queens Park Rangers, Wigan Athletic and Newcastle United, it would finish on 73 points and could miss out on a place in the Champions League for the first time in 16 years.
The key game is on May 8 when former Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas takes his Spurs team to Stamford Bridge to face his old club. If Spurs win that game - and their other three remaining games against Southampton, Stoke City and Sunderland - they will finish above Arsenal.
Chelsea will also finish above Arsenal even if it loses to Spurs and wins its three other games at Manchester United and Aston Villa, and at home to Everton.
As it stands, champion United and Manchester City, which will almost certainly finish second, will take two of the four Champions League spots. Next comes Chelsea on 65 points from 34 games, followed by Arsenal (64 points from 35 games) and Spurs (62 from 34 games).
Wenger saw his side drop two points in a 1-1 draw with champion United at the Emirates Stadium in London on Sunday and said afterwards there was no more room for errors as the season reaches its climax.
Asked whether the point would be enough for Champions League qualification for a 16th successive season, Wenger replied: "If we win all our games it will be enough and I am convinced we will be there. We will be where we want to be at the end, I am sure of that."
Arsenal slipped from third to fourth after Chelsea's 2-0 home win over Swansea on Sunday.
Wenger welcomed the return of former Arsenal skipper Robin van Persie back to the Emirates, even though he scored a penalty to give United a share of the points. Arsenal fans booed their former favorite despite Wenger's plea for him to be treated with respect.
"When he was here he didn't get that kind of reception," the Frenchman added. "They loved him -- today it was a bit of disappointed love."
Theo Walcott put Arsenal ahead after two minutes before van Persie equalized a minute before halftime.
If Chelsea takes at least nine points from its last four games, it will finish on 74 points. If Spurs win their four remaining games, they would also finish on 74 points.
However, even if Arsenal won its remaining games against relegated Queens Park Rangers, Wigan Athletic and Newcastle United, it would finish on 73 points and could miss out on a place in the Champions League for the first time in 16 years.
The key game is on May 8 when former Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas takes his Spurs team to Stamford Bridge to face his old club. If Spurs win that game - and their other three remaining games against Southampton, Stoke City and Sunderland - they will finish above Arsenal.
Chelsea will also finish above Arsenal even if it loses to Spurs and wins its three other games at Manchester United and Aston Villa, and at home to Everton.
As it stands, champion United and Manchester City, which will almost certainly finish second, will take two of the four Champions League spots. Next comes Chelsea on 65 points from 34 games, followed by Arsenal (64 points from 35 games) and Spurs (62 from 34 games).
Wenger saw his side drop two points in a 1-1 draw with champion United at the Emirates Stadium in London on Sunday and said afterwards there was no more room for errors as the season reaches its climax.
Asked whether the point would be enough for Champions League qualification for a 16th successive season, Wenger replied: "If we win all our games it will be enough and I am convinced we will be there. We will be where we want to be at the end, I am sure of that."
Arsenal slipped from third to fourth after Chelsea's 2-0 home win over Swansea on Sunday.
Wenger welcomed the return of former Arsenal skipper Robin van Persie back to the Emirates, even though he scored a penalty to give United a share of the points. Arsenal fans booed their former favorite despite Wenger's plea for him to be treated with respect.
"When he was here he didn't get that kind of reception," the Frenchman added. "They loved him -- today it was a bit of disappointed love."
Theo Walcott put Arsenal ahead after two minutes before van Persie equalized a minute before halftime.
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