Having bounced back from a difficult opening to the Premier League season, Arsenal find themselves well and truly in the race for a top four spot with 16 games left to play.
If the Gunners win their games in hand, they would overtake fourth placed Man United and give themselves a five point point cushion in the process.
However, Mikel Arteta is very much in one game at a time territory as he prepares his side to face Brentford at the Emirates on Saturday.
Asked how he viewed the team’s chances of a return to the Champions League places, the Arsenal boss said, “We go game by game. We have to win tomorrow and then we will be closer to that objective.
“It’s true that we have some games in hand and there’s still a long way to go and a lot of things are going to happen, a lot of turnarounds and we have to be ready to play within the context that this is going to happen because there are a lot of teams involved there.
For some observers, this is perhaps a little more than the expectations held at the start of the campaign, but expectations shift based on performance, and Arteta is looking for a collective effort from his players and the fans to maintain this push.
“It’s where we are,” he said.
“We have earned the right to be where we are right now, credit to the players, credit to the club and everybody, especially our supporters, because we talk about the club needing support, but I think it’s very important how our fans reacted and how they understood the necessity to stand behind these young players.
“The mentality has been incredible and that’s what we need, that every time we play in front of them and when we play away that we feel their support because we become a much better team.
“Now we have earned the right to be there and now we need to go game by game to maximise the position that we’re in, and that’s what we’re going to be trying to do.”
The potential return of Takehiro Tomiyasu for the Brentford showdown is a boost, as the Gunners will have Bernd Leno available again after he recovered from Covid-19.
Looking forward to being at the match.
Brentford’s recent form hasn’t been great, hope we can overcome not having the goal threat of Martinelli.
COYR!!!
If the Hammers draw and we win tomorrow, we’ll be level with them on points with three games in hand, and one point behind United with two games in hand. And if Sp*rs lose their fourth match in a row (away to Man City, so a good chance) then they will be 6 points behind us on the same number of matches.
Big weekend coming up…
At least he said “game by game” and not “season by season”.
Kudos Mikel. That’s progress👍
Games in hand. A few weeks ago, Spurs were 7th with three games in hand on us. They have now played all their games in hand and are now… 8th. So games in hand are not always a great advantage. But then again no one else is burdened with the history of the Tottenham.
Help them celebrate tomorrow! 22,222 days since they won the league title! A huge achievement! Make sure all their fans know so they can realise what a massive achievement it is!
https://twitter.com/_SpursTrophies/status/1494600320953032709?t=BCviK8wu8NgI2eglSgsN5A&s=19
“Aubameyang can kill you in open space. But Barcelona need players who know how to move in small spaces,” Xavi explained. “I am thinking about players who would adapt to Barcelona and it’s not easy to find one.”
Pretty amusing comments from Xavi on Auba. He’s bang on point and that has been the exact issues with Auba over the last 2 seasons. Like maybe that should have been considered before signing him?
Shouldn’t they have come for Eddy?
Our games in hand are tough matches. Ups and downs to come. Arteta…game by game, young gifted and tough young players need our fans support. Notice how he has to keep reminding certain fans what being a fan means. COYGF’s come on you gunners fans, this team plays hard, support them no matter what.
Every game seems to be a hard one, either against top 4 or top 4 rivals, sides playing better with new managers or v Wolves, Brighton & Southampton all playing well recently, its in our hands at the moment to accomplish a CL place, ok we’ve been there before and fallen by the wayside in the run in but even though our team are light squad wise we have 1 objective now, its now or never for Miki to sail us pass the choppy waters ahead, with a little luck & less red cards I’m confident our hungry young team… Read more »
“.. a little more than the expectations held at the start of the campaign, but expectations shift based on performance..”
I think Arsenal has played truly well in only a couple of matches. But luckily, other teams have performed unexpectedly bad. So top 4 is actually possible, but there is also a short way down to 7.
Our great defense will ensure wins.