How has the last week affected Arsenal’s hopes of securing Champions League football?

Emile Smith Rowe

How has the last week affected Arsenal’s hopes of securing Champions League football? 

By Brian Matovu

In typical Arsenal fashion, the last week has been a mix of highs and lows. 

It began with a disappointing defeat away at Southampton which many believed to be the end of the teams' hopes of clinching a top four place.

However, the Premier League picture can change through just one result.

On Wednesday, Arsenal put in an outstanding performance by beating London rivals Chelsea 4-2 at Stamford Bridge to swing the pendulum back in the Gunners’ favour.

So ahead of today's game with fellow Champions League hopefuls Manchester United, how has the last week affected our European ambitions? 

The Hunt is back on


The win over Chelsea showed everyone that Arsenal, on their day,  can produce a stunning performance at the times when you least expect them to. 

Throughout the week, Mikel Arteta’s side had their mental strength questioned but just a few days after the disaster at Southampton, bur they put four past a Chelsea side who were coming off the back of winning an FA Cup semi-final.

The courageous manner of the Gunners’ attack was spearheaded by Eddie Nketiah who led the line terrifically scoring two goals, supported by fellow Hale End products Emile Smith-Rowe and Bukayo Saka who were also on the scoresheet.

As this was Arsenal’s game in hand, the victory put them level on points with their north-London rivals Tottenham who occupy the final Champions League spot.

The trick now is for Arsenal to produce a similar performance this upcoming Saturday at home against a Manchester United side reeling off a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Liverpool.

A win would inflict more damage on United’s own top-four hopes while putting the pressure back on Tottenham who face a tough trip to a resurgent Brentford later today.

Work to be done


As great as the win was on Wednesday night, this should not gloss over the three games prior where Arsenal's tendency to choke when the pressure is on and old failings were all revisited in the build-up.

Just three weeks ago, Arsenal were fourth and in prime position to secure a Champions League spot only to fall into a spell of three consecutive defeats to Crystal Palace, Brighton and then at Southampton last week.

The absent presence of Kieran Tierney and Thomas Partey were evident in the three losses and although they managed to overcome this at Chelsea, it is still a problem they will face in the coming weeks.

Arsenal have shown they have the ability to cope without them but it all depends on which version of the XI turns up. 

If it is the team that shrank in recent games then it is likely they will fall short of their Champions League dream.

However, if they play with the fire and conviction as they did at Chelsea, the top four is within their grasp.

Anything can happen


This last week is the latest example showing that anything can happen in football and now is not the time for Arsenal fans to get too excited.

The job is not done yet and the Gunners have another huge game today against fellow top-four hopefuls Manchester United.

Given United’s performance at Anfield in midweek, some may assume an easy Arsenal win. However, we have seen over the last week that nothing is ever guaranteed and Arsenal are the prime example of this as no one expected the Gunners to win at Stamford Bridge.

It is not within the realm of possibility for Man United, who still possess huge offensive firepower through the likes of Sancho, Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes, to show up and cause an upset. 

Arteta’s side know that winning all of their last six games will guarantee them a place in the Champions League for next season or they may face the possibility of a sixth straight season out of Europe’s top competition. The pressure is on.

Photo credit: Getty Images

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