Former Rangers midfielder Mikel Arteta is currently reviving Premier League side Arsenal as a last gasp winner over Wolves on Thursday evening has the London club sitting 5th in the league table, just a point behind Manchester Utd with a game in hand.
If they continue to play well and makeup ground on the top four, then a Champions League spot could be guaranteed next season for the first time in five years. Not since the great Arsene Wenger was at the club have Arsenal managed to feature in Europe’s elite competition.
The Gunners fell behind after only ten minutes against Wolves, with Hee-Chan Hwang scoring after a mistake from the Arsenal backline.
It took until the 82nd minute for another goal and it fell to Nicolas Pepe who slotted the ball into the net, and it looked like the points would be shared. in the 95th minute, the ball broke to Alexandre Lacazette who coolly scored the winner with virtually the last kick of the match, and this could be a big moment in the chase for the fourth spot.
Mikel Arteta is slowly reviving Arsenal as a Champions League spot beckons
Arsenal qualified for the Champions League an incredible 19 years in a row under Wenger and even though constant Europa League qualification has been achieved under Emery and Arteta, Europe’s elite is the aim.
The Spaniard is building a young squad and one that looks like it is gelling quite nicely. If results against the top four sides in the league improve then there is no doubt that the fourth spot could be achieved this season.
A club the size of Arsenal’s deserves to be in the Champions League and although Arteta has had his critics over the years, he looks like he is finally getting the time to properly build and finetune his squad.
Who knows, we may see a return for the former Ger next season in the group stages if everything goes to plan for both teams.
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