Mikel Arteta reveals reason behind their Champions League qualification fight, he alos added what is expected of club captain Alexandre Lacazette
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed what Champions League qualification will make for the club.
Arsenal will visit Chelsea in the Premier later today and the game will play a vital role for their top four finish.
The Gunners are in battle to finish in the Champions League spot with the like of Tottenham, Manchester United and West Ham.
Manchester United lost to Liverpool last night by four goals to nil and Arteta’s side have moved to 5th position without playing.
Speaking about the Champions League qualification Arteta claims the competition brings more value to the club.
“Champions League brings first of all the club much closer to where we want [to be]. To play in a competition that has a huge history and relation to our club. And secondly, obviously, it improves every situation, with the sponsors, financially, expectations, the capacity to grow our players and expose them into a different dimension of a competition and this is where we want to be, so it’s a game-changer.
“The Champions League puts you with the best teams in Europe and we definitely want to be there.”
In order to keep earn themselves the Champions League spot then the Gunners have to get all three points against fellow London team Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Mikel Arteta said that is side needs to be at their best against top team in Europe and that their intention against Chelsea is to get the whole three points.
“We have to be at our best against the best team in Europe that showed last year what they can do with everything that they have and with the ability that we have as well.
“We’re going to go there as always to win the match and that is going to be our intention tomorrow when we’re at Stamford Bridge.”
Sportscliffs understands that Arsenal captain Alexandre Lacazette is in talk with other clubs as he is yet to sign a new contract.
Arteta believes that the French man can do anything he wants to but insists he has his duty to fulfil for the club.
“He doesn’t need to tell me what he does in his own life but he has and we’ve discussed that and he’s entitled to do that. Then has a duty to do his best here.
“That is the agreement that we made with him. That was our position, and our position remains the same – that this is what we are going to do. The risk of that happening was always there since the moment we made that decision. Then it’s up to him because it’s not about us or him, it’s about both parties.”
