ALEXIS UP 4
And Wenger fires a top four warning
ARSENE WENGER claims his savvy can help Arsenal pip Manchester City or Liverpool to a top four spot after victory at Southampton.
Second-half goals from Alexis Sanchez and substitute Olivier Giroud moved them three points behind fourth-place City and four behind Liverpool, with three to play.
‘Experience can help,’ Wenger said of his side’s chances of gate- crashing the places for next season’s Champions League.
‘We know we can only win our games, and we had a strong performance on Sunday. A
strong performance today. So let’s just continue.’ The Frenchman, who is aiming to qualify for the Champions League for a 20th successive season, has Stoke, Sunderland and Everton still to play. ‘I never questioned the character of my side,’ a bullish Wenger insisted afterwards. ‘It’s not because you lose games people expect you to win that you have no character. We went through a bad patch.’ Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain came off in the first half with a hamstring injury and Wenger could not confirm whether he will be fit for the FA Cup final. ‘We don’t know how bad it is,’ said Wenger. He hailed the impact of Sanchez, whose Arsenal future remains uncertain, after the Chilean became the first Arsenal player to score 20 goals in a season since Robin van Persie in 2012. ‘He scores important goals,’ said Wenger. ‘He has invention in his head. He’s creative, not phased by anything, and he surprised everyone in the stadium with his goal. ‘Everyone was expecting him to take a shot, but he’s very quick on the move.’ Southampton manager Claude Puel was more sombre, saying: ‘It’s a big disappointment and another big frustration.’