Guendouzi is the bright spark, but as Arsenal tread water in sixth place, Emery warns Gunners fans this may be as good as it gets this season

UNAI EMERY has admitted Arsenal cannot finish in the top three – and a topfour slot is unlikely.

Terrible away form has seen Gunners slip to sixth place behind Chelsea and Manchester United in the chase for the final Champions League place.

And after a January window in which Arsenal brought only another lightweight midfielder on loan, the Basque boss has started to condition fans to a third campaign without Champions League football next season.

“There are teams better than us,” said Emery (below). “Are we outsiders now for a top-four finish? Yes, we are sixth. That’s the reality.

“We still have to believe we can finish in the top four even while knowing it will be difficult for us.

“There’s a big difference between the top three (Liverpool, Manchester City, and Tottenham) and us but we are a lot closer to Chelsea and Manchester United.

“The gap to the top three is too big but the other two? The possibility to catch them is there because we are only three points behind Chelsea and one point behind Manchester United. We still have to believe that we can do it.”

Missing a Champions League campaign cost Arsenal, still in the Europa League (they play at BATE Borisov next Thursday), £30million last season.

After picking up only two points in their last six games on the road, Emery stated his side have to win at rockbottom Huddersfield today.

He also called on his squad, who have won only four of their 13 Premier League away fixtures, to rediscover their confidence and passion.

“Saturday is a very big opportunity for us,” said Emery, who wants a repeat of the form Gunners showed in beating Spurs 4-2 at the