The dream to finish among the top four clubs in the English Premier League is the target of Arsenal. Mikel Arteta, has said they must win every game and then “wait and pray”, in order to qualify for the Champions League.
The Gunners are now in Europa League spots after three straight wins in the league. Arteta’s men are eight points off fourth-place Chelsea, and six behind United in fifth.
Qualification for the Champions League could go down to the fifth spot in the table, if Manchester City’s UEFA ban is upheld.
But Arteta has made it clear to his players what is required, if they are to book their place at Europe’s top club competition next season.
“We have to win every game and then wait and pray. It’s not about a game, we need to go game by game. A few weeks ago, we were really far from thinking about Europe, and we are a little closer at the moment, so let’s go game by game and see where that takes us,” Arteta said on Sunday.
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s manager has praised the Reds’ club culture and the way they have grown over the past four years
Liverpool’s ascent to become Premier League champions under Jurgen Klopp has given Mikel Arteta belief that he can plot a similar revival at Arsenal.
Manchester City’s 2-1 loss to Chelsea on Thursday meant the Reds were confirmed as champions of English football for the first time in 30 years.
In the intervening period, Arsenal won four league championships and they finished above Liverpool in Klopp’s first season in 2015-16.
However, the two have gone in opposite directions since, with the Reds having claimed twice as many points as the Gunners’ 43 from 31 games.
Arteta, only appointed as the Gunners’ head coach in December, admires how Klopp has transformed Liverpool and thinks it should serve as encouragement to his current squad.
“They’ve come so far as a club and as a team in the last few seasons,” Arteta said at a media conference.
“I think they set a very clear club culture that they have been able to transmit to the supporters and generate belief.
“I think they have a very clear philosophy with the way they want to play, the way they approach every game, and then they’ve got some really good recruitment.
“Starting from the staff and the coach and all the players they signed, they are specifically for the way they want to play so congratulations to them.”
Asked whether Liverpool are an inspiration for Arsenal, Arteta replied: “Well, yes, because they were in a very difficult position four years ago and they made a lot of right decisions – some difficult decisions, some unpopular decisions but the right decisions for them.
“They have been very consistent with their messages, very clear messages from top to bottom, and a ruthless mentality to go every game with the mentality to win the game.”
Klopp took Liverpool to two cup finals in his first campaign, though Liverpool lost on both occasions.
FA Cup glory may be Arteta’s most realistic goal this term too given his side are 11 points adrift of the Champions League places with the Gunners set to face Sheffield United in the quarter-finals on Sunday.
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