Wenger says Arsenal must ‘fight like mad’ for top-four finish

Arsenal will need to show consistency in its final seven Premier League matches if it is to qualify for next season’s Champions League, said manager Arsene Wenger.

The North London club is seventh in the league and seven points behind fourthplace Manchester City, which has played one more game than the Gunners.

“We have to fight like mad to win our games,” the Frenchman told a news conference before Arsenal hosts 15th-place Leicester City in the league on Wednesday night.

Wenger has led his side to a top-four finish every season since joining the club in 1996.

“The door is open but it demands a consistency from us,” Wenger said.

“It is still possible, but we need a near perfect run-in. We need to keep the level of desire and hunger for every game of the season.”

The 67-year-old Wenger, whose own contract expires at the end of the season, gave no updates on his future, but said he was evaluating transfer targets for Arsenal’s next campaign.

“Yes, of course. I work until the last day of the season for the present and the future. What happens with me is a bit secondary, what is important is the future of the club.”

Following the Leicester encounter, Arsenal travels on Sunday to it north London rival, second-place Tottenham Hotspur, which faces off against Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

Also, Thursday’s hyped Manchester derby will play a decisive role in both teams’ chances of finishing in the top four.

Newcastle romps back into Premiership

Meanwhile, Newcastle United sparked a noisy promotion party by beating 10-man Preston North End 4-1 at a packed St. James’ Park on Monday night to ensure a return to the Premier League at the first attempt.

Exactly 348 days after being relegated, Newcastle overcame its obvious nerves to bag a prize worth more than 100 million pounds ($127.92 million) and retain an outside chance of pipping Brighton & Hove Albion to the Championship title.

Two tap-ins from Ayoze Perez, a well-worked Christian Atsu goal and a Matt Ritchie penalty warmed the crowd of 50,212 on a bitter Tyneside night.

“It is brilliant,” said man of the match Ritchie. “It was a little bit tense, but we always believed.”

Captain Jamaal Lascelles added: “It is a bit overwhelming, to be honest. Getting back to the Premier League was always the aim and that is what we have done.” (Reuters)