Why Arsenal Can Still Make The Top Four

Arsenal can still make the top four – 5 reasons to believe that the Gunners can still qualify for the Champions League.

Arsenal’s top four hopes looked to be dead and buried when they lost the North London derby but Bettingpro.com writer Neil Roarty thinks there is reason to suggest that the Gunners could still sneak into one of the Champions League qualification spots.

Arsene Wenger said in the immediate aftermath of Arsenal’s defeat to Spurs that he still believed that a top four finish was possible and he was, quite rightly, mocked for his myopic stance. However, in the period since that 2-1 defeat at White Hart Lane things have started to look up for the Gunners and there is perhaps still a chance that they could be in the Champions League next season. Here are five reasons to suggest that a top four finish is possible:

Arsenal are grinding out results in the Premier League

It’s long been a criticism of the Gunners that they can produce some big performances but can’t win the easy games and that was the case earlier in the season with cup exits to both Bradford City and Blackburn Rovers glaring examples of Arsenal’s inability to make their dominance count against inferior opposition. However, in their last five matches the Gunners have ground out results against Stoke, Aston Villa, Sunderland and Swansea. These are the teams that they need to be beating for a top four finish and they are doing it professionally.

Spurs are looking shaky

Call it fatigue, call it a focus on the Europa League or call it simply a case of luck running out but Spurs are not looking great at the moment. They have now lost two games in a row (three if you count the defeat in Milan) and that is a massive blow to AVB’s men, who were previously unbeaten since before Christmas. This is the first time this season that Tottenham’s character has been tested and, at the moment, they are not responding well.

Chelsea are far from infallible

Chelsea are five points clear of Arsenal at the moment but the Blues are by no means secure in their top four place. They have failed to win in three of their last six matches (five of nine in all competitions) and it’s a fair safe bet that Rafael Benitez’s men will drop points between now and the end of the season. If Arsenal put them under pressure then the Blues could well crack.

Arsenal have experience on their side

How often can you use experience as a plus point for an Arsenal side? They are so often chastised for being young and impetuous but there is no player in the current Arsenal squad that has not experienced qualifying for the Champions League. Manager Arsene Wenger has also never failed to qualify for the competition during his time at the club so, for once, experience is on the Gunners’ side.

Arsenal have an easy run in

There are nine matches left for the Gunners this season and every one of them is winnable. None of their four away trips (West Brom, Fulham, QPR, Newcastle) and of the five home games only Manchester United and Everton would be fancied to even take a point. The former may well have the title won by the time they visit while the latter are in something of a dip at the moment and can’t really be considered too much of a threat.

(Written by Neil Roarty from Bettingpro.com, the number one source for sports betting tips, breaking news and expert views.)

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