OK, their fading, flickering chance of silverware was extinguished in that 3-1 defeat at Stoke last Sunday. But if the minds of Arsène Wenger’s side are already ‘on the beach’ then, come August, they may just find Manchester City have placed their towels on that highly-prized Champions League sun-lounger.
The Eastlands side secured their place in the competition in midweek with a 1-0 win over Tottenham. But fourth place means a qualifier – and a disrupted pre-season. Third means you can relax until the group stages.
Meanwhile Arsène Wenger is still eying second.
Right now, the final 180 minutes of the season feels half-empty not half-full. Realistically, Arsenal need four points to secure third place and the fixtures – Aston Villa at home on Sunday, Fulham away next weekend – seem to be in their favour.
With Manchester City otherwise engaged in the FA Cup Final on Saturday, a victory this weekend would be a giant stride towards a 14th successive stint in the Champions League group stages.
“Our chances of third are quite good and we can still catch the second place,” said Wenger.
“We can finish second, third or fourth depending on our results. Of course we want to finish in the top three and, if possible, second. It is not unrealistic [to finish second] when you are just three points behind but Man City are only two points behind us, so it's open.
“City have lost games as well recently so it is down to us. We need to win our games. Let's beat Aston Villa so we can get five points away from them again.
“The FA Cup is not ideally positioned, I must say, for the League’s interest. But, as well, Chelsea had a huge disappointment on Sunday and it will be difficult for them to recover so we have an opportunity we must take.”
For some, Champions League qualification will be cold comfort for a season that was promising so much at the start of February but tailed-off alarmingly. It is not a trophy but it certainly felt like one for Manchester City on Wednesday, like it did Tottenham 12 months earlier.
It is certain to define next season for Mancini’s men. And it would do the same for Arsenal if they did not reach the groups.
“People take it for granted that we are in there every year,” said Wenger. “ But, believe me, it is hard work. You have clubs like Liverpool who are out of it and Tottenham were a big candidate this season.”
Thomas Vermaelen is likely to make his first appearance in nine months because of the thigh injury picked up by Laurent Koscielny at Stoke last weekend. Gael Clichy missed that game but returns for Villa.
Cesc Fabregas (thigh) and Samir Nasri (hamstring) both face late tests. Abou Diaby (calf) and Tomas Rosicky (thigh) are both ruled out.
Aston Villa have had an unhappy campaign. They achieved safety a few weeks ago but have never found a rhythm after Gerard Houllier took over from Martin O’Neill in pre-season.
Villa have registered just three away wins all season – at Wigan, Wolves and West Ham. But then Arsenal’s form is patchy too. They have won just two of their last nine games.
In the end, this game may suffer from an end-of-season malaise but it really should not. Arsenal still have a job to do.
Wenger defines Champions League qualification as his side’s minimum standard. They either do the job now or leave it till August.
Giving Manchester City a little early-season headache will be no bad thing either. Like the rest of the football world, he expects Roberto Mancini’s side to be serious title challengers next term.
“They will now be contenders, that is for sure,” he said. “It will be easier for them to buy players now they are in the Champions League.
“But you can see they will still have us, Manchester United, Liverpool will come back and Chelsea will invest again.
“Man City were very close last year and then they bought Yaya Toure, Silva and they added Dzeko. They missed out on a Champions League place on the final day of last season so it is not super-surprising where they are.”
The same is true of Arsenal. Trailing Manchester United and/or Chelsea by a small but significant margin has been a regular situation in recent seasons.
The discussion over changing that scenario will dominate the summer. And it can wait till then.
Arsenal’s singular task in the final throes of the season is finish third or above.
Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 14 May 11
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