Mikel Arteta responded to questions about Arsenal finishing top four and also talk about their clash against wounded Southampton.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has responded to questions regarding his team finishing in the top four of the Premier League.
There is pressure on the top four race just like the title race as Tottenham Hotspurs currently occupy the fourth position in the Premier League.
Arsenal failed to revive their hope of the fourth place following their home defeat to Brighton last week.
Speaking about the top four race Arteta said: “I think it’s related to our history and we want to be not fourth, but third, second or first, and that’s what we have to do. That’s always within every supporter and anybody who has any connection with the club, so the moment you see the team doing better and having better aspirations, your tendency is to get excited about it and I think that’s the right reaction.”
Arsenal are behind Tottenham in the Premier League table and when asked if he would have taken the fifth position in the start of the season Arteta said: “At the start of the season? You cannot take anything because you don’t know how things are going to develop. You could ask me a week into the season or two weeks before, I could maybe give you a different answer, but no, no.”
Arsenal manager believes it not certain who will qualify for next season Champions League but insists any one who manages to win lots of game will get the top four spot.
“Whoever manages to win more games and play better. There’s going to be some twists still for sure and the pressure and situation is going to keep changing between now and the end of the season. We have to be focused on us and what we have to do.”
Both Arsenal and Southampton suffered defeat to their opponents last week but the Saints suffered heavily in the hands of Chelsea.
“I think you’re going to see two teams that are hurting because we are hurting after we lost the last two games, and we want to perform and win. I’m sure that after their home defeat they had they will want to do the same.”
