Arteta: We will battle all the way
Vardy to score two goals or more
MIKEL ARTETA insists Arsenal will fight until the very last day of this extended season for a Champions League place.
Arsenal face thirdplaced Leicester tonight at the Emirates, having revived their chances of qualifying for Europe’s elite club competition after three straight league victories.
The Gunners are in seventh spot, in the Europa League places and six points off fifth, which could be enough to clinch a place in the Champions League if Manchester City’s European ban is upheld.
And Arteta conceded Europa League football is not good enough.
“This club has to play in the Champions League,” said the Gunners boss
“If we don’t have the choice to do that then obviously it is better to play in Europe than not to play.We will try to the end. If we are able to take it to the last day we will have done well to have given ourselves a chance. “It is not in our hands. The only thing we can do is win as many games as possible and see what happens.”
Arteta, above, believes that playing in empty stadiums is helping his players as they try to rescue something from a topsy-turvy season.
They will need to be at their best as they face North London rivals Tottenham on Sunday and then have a tough run-in with games against Liverpool and Manchester City at home, before finishing against relegation-strugglers Aston Villa and Watford.
“When they play in front of 80,000 people it is much harder, mostly when they are on the ball or the ball is coming close to them,” added Arteta.
“Others need that extra pressure, extra passion to perform better. Every player is different. But some of the players are not rushing what they do.”
Arteta has confirmed that Arsenal are in talks with Real Madrid to do a permanent deal for midfielder Dani Ceballos, who has been on a season-long loan with the club.The 23-year-old has made 30 appearances, scoring two goals.