Mikel Arteta has conceded that Arsenal will find it hard to make it into the Top Four this season, something that hasn’t occurred at the club under Arsene Wenger’s watch. The Gunners lie all the way down in 7th place right now, 5 points behind Chelsea in 4th. The 0-0 draw at Bolton on Wednesday meant that Arsenal continue to be winless in the Premier League in 2012.
Speaking to ESPN about the Bolton game, Arteta said, “It’s not good enough. We have the players and the quality to have a better result than what we have got against Bolton. We really need to start picking up points now. We’ve lost too many in the last two weeks.”
“It is going to be tough. We have the talent and quality in the side, but we have to show it game by game. I am confident because we train together every day and I know how good we are, but we have to show it every week not every two or three weeks,” added the Spaniard.
The hardest pill to swallow for Arsenal fans will be the form of Tottenham Hotspur, who in most people’s eyes have been the best team in the Premier League this season. The Manchester clubs and Spurs should have the top three spots filled amongst themselves, leaving the rest to fight for 4th spot. Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and possibly Newcastle are all in the battle for that lucrative last Champions League place.
No Champions League football next season could cost Arsenal a lot more than just money, and they may run the risk of losing some of their top players especially the likes of Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott, who are yet to agree to new contracts.
