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'We can
still beat Spurs to fourth,' says Wenger
All eyes on Bolton match as Arsenal
lifted by Villarreal draw
BUOYED Highbury chief Arsene Wenger is still aiming for a
double that seemed unlikely just a few months ago – winning
the Champions League in Paris and beating Spurs to fourth place.
The Gunners booked their place in their first European Cup final
after coming through a nerve-wracking contest with Villarreal
on Tuesday night.
It may work out that Arsenal have to lift the trophy in May
– a prize they have rarely even come close to winning –
to qualify for the competition next year.
The only other way into the tournament is a fourth place finish
which would mean leap-frogging Spurs in the final 10 days of
the season.
Tottenham are in the box seat, retaining a four-point advantage
over Arsenal after the two teams played out a 1-1 draw at Highbury
on Saturday.
Spurs host Bolton on Sunday and travel to West Ham next Sunday
for their final fixtures.
Realistically West Ham will have one eye on their end of season
FA Cup final with Liverpool when they play Tottenham but Bolton,
still hoping to qualify for the Uefa Cup, are likely to be a
tougher test. Two wins and Tottenham will be guaranteed of finishing
fourth – their highest ever Premiership finish.
Wenger said on Saturday: “Mathematically it is in their
(Spurs) hands now.”
But he has not given up on reeling Tottenham in and Arsenal
will have all eyes on the Bolton match.
He added: “I still think we have a chance that Tottenham
will get one draw out of their two games.
“We can still be on top of them.”
If Spurs do slip up, Arsenal must pile on the pressure with
three wins in three matches over seven days, starting with a
visit to already relegated Sunderland on Monday.
Wenger is likely to mix-up his team selection.
He played an under strength team at Sunderland earlier this
season in the Carling Cup and still came away with a 3-0 win.
Wenger’s shuffling will continue when the Gunners travel
to Manchester City on Thursday night – again needing maximum
points.
They haven’t dropped points away to Manchester City in
12 years but a win has never been so important. |
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