Arsenal were supposed to push for a top-four finish in the Premier League this season but right now they are struggling to even get into the top-ten.
Arsenal are currently 11th on the league table with just 23 points and they have already lost eight of their first 17 matches. Three wins on the trot have somewhat managed to pull their out of the hole but according to pundit Ian Wright, Arsenal would be content even if they can manage a top-six finish by the end of May.
“If Arsenal got anywhere near the top six and they start to create and do what we’re seeing now in the last few games, I’d be happy with that, for now,” the former Gunners striker told The Kelly and Wrighty Show, as reported.
“I think that the confidence that will be going through the guys now, they’ll be looking forward to those games.
“Whereas a couple of weeks ago, before the three wins, they would be games where you’d be thinking, ‘oh my gosh, this could be quite intense for Arsenal’.
“Before the Chelsea game they had a run of games where you couldn’t see Arsenal winning, with the form that they were in. But in the Premier League, three wins changes everything.
“It changes the confidence, you’ve got players who can’t wait to play and Arsenal look like a different proposition to teams now.
“The two [Premier League] games coming up now, Arsenal will feel like they can win those games.”
The way Arsenal had been playing over the past couple of months, even a Europa League berth would have been satisfactory for manager Mikel Arteta.
But their form over the past three matches show the players are willing to fight for their manager and if they can manage to get a few more wins under their belt then Champions League qualification can be a more realistic possibility for them.
After their FA Cup clash this weekend, Arsenal take on Crystal Palace and Newcastle United in the Premier League and Arteta will surely be looking to pick up wins in both these outings.
Also, Arsenal are just six points behind the fourth spot on the table and the way all the other teams are playing, they are sure to drop points during the remainder of the season. So if the North London side can manage to string together some positive results then they can surely mingle with the big boys next campaign.
