Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has likened finishing in the Champions League qualification places to winning a piece of silverware, The Telegraph reports.
Chances of winning a trophy this season are effectively over after they were dumped out of the FA Cup by Sunderland on Saturday. Arsenal were also trounced in Milan in the first leg of the Champions League second round and currently sit 17 points away from league leaders Manchester City. Wenger acknowledges that it would be a disaster for the club to lose their top four status and whilst he is under contract until 2014, there have been reports of a move to Real Madrid at the end of the season.
Wenger has the small matter of a North London derby against Tottenham to contend with next weekend and Arsenal’s season could go from bad to worse if they are beaten at the Emirates Stadium. Wenger’s side have suffered from injuries, but the Frenchman insists that the club have to focus on their next game against Milan and try to complete an unlikely comeback.
‘Our main target now is to focus on the championship. People are always asking the same question, but the first trophy is to finish in the top four. That is vital for us. Let’s win our next home game and we will be fine. A week ago, we won at Sunderland in the championship and that is our main target. We put a lot of spirit into this game against Sunderland and if we keep that spirit and recover a bit physically, then we can win that next game’, Wenger said.
See what the expert tipsters at OLBG are tipping on Arsenal v Tottenham
