Arsenal must win the Europa League this season because finishing top four is an impossible task
ARSENAL face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final in 12 days and it would be great for my old club to get another trophy.
But the competition they really MUST win is the Europa League. This could be Arsene Wenger’s only route back into the Champions League.
For Arsenal to win the final in Lyon on May 16 could still be one hell of a task when you look at the teams competing.
Fourth spot in the Premier League now looks impossible for Wenger. Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Spurs pretty much ended any hopes.
To close a seven-point gap with an inferior goal difference — and just 11 games left to play — would be an incredible achievement.
Also, when you consider the defensive errors that keep happening, I cannot see Arsenal avoiding defeat.
They don’t seem to be learning or improving and that is really frustrating.
Let’s not forget they have only beaten Crystal Palace, Everton and Burnley on the road in the league.
Gooners got excited — understandably so — with the arrivals of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, coupled with the 5-1 hammering of Everton. But the Spurs game highlighted the same old weaknesses.
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Jack Wilshere tried hard but a midfield of Mohamed Elneny and Granit Xhaka was not helping the defence whatsoever.
I felt sorry for Aubameyang as he did not get any service and when he was clean through, was wrongly flagged for offside.
One goal separated the sides and Arsenal wasted some chances at the end but we all know the scoreline should have been very different and Harry Kane could have got a hat-trick.
I just don’t see Arsenal improving.
They visit Sweden on Thursday to take on Ostersunds in the last 32 of the Europa League and I am sure they will get through, even though this game will be tricky as it will be played on an artificial pitch in sub-zero temperatures.
A good run would really help Wenger and, as I said, it would give everyone at the club a real lift.
But if this team can struggle at Swansea, you have to wonder what would happen if they took on Napoli, Dortmund, Milan or Atletico Madrid in Europe.
The Arsenal fanbase is restless again and I understand why. I am hearing some say, ‘I don’t care any more, I am waiting for a change’ and that is a shame.
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Too many supporters are disillusioned — apart from the deluded ones.
The team must not give up and really fight hard in Europe as stranger things have happened. But most fans will not be holding their breath.
Meanwhile, good luck to all our teams in the Champions League. I am looking forward to seeing at least one of them in the final in Kiev in May.