Xhaka wants Gunners to target top four finish

GRANIT XHAKA has warned Arsenal that they now have to go on a run of wins if they are to stand any chance of a top four place this season.

The Gunners are only six points off the top six in the Premier League and eight off the top four after Sunday’s 3-1 win at Leicester, with 12 games left of the campaign.

Arsenal registered probably their most impressive League performance of the season without Bukayo Saka, left on the bench after the Europa League win over Benfica, and captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, also among the unused substitutes.

Goals from David Luis and Nicolas Pepe, and a penalty from Alexandre Lacazette earned Arsenal their win in a much-improved performance after falling behind at the King Power Stadium.

But the Gunners have won only two of their last six League games – and midfielder Xhaka has insisted that his team need more consistency if they are to close the gap.

“We have to do it game by game, not for three games, not for four, we have to constantly be like this, with this energy, this team spirit. After this I am looking forward to us doing something,” Xhaka said.

“We knew Leicester had very good midfielders, and a very good team as well. They try to play football, but we won a lot of duels, a lot of 50-50 balls and the goals were beautiful. I am so happy for the team.”

Arsenal face Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday, and then, after they open their Europa League last 16 opening leg against Olympiakos next Friday (4am Malaysian time), they meet

Tottenham on March 15

(Mon 12.30am) in the north

London derby.

Xhaka added: “We started very slowly at Leicester.

But after my mistake when we conceded the goal, the team went up.

“We knew it would be very difficult after the Europa League game, after the travelling and everything else, to be ready for a midday kick off.

“It wasn’t easy but in the end we deserved to win. We played a really, really good game after 10 minutes. It was a really important three points for us.”

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was full of praise for his side after Sunday’s win but warned they need to keep the same consistency if they’re to move up the Premier League table.

Arteta reiterated after the game that his players will need to maintain some consistency and stop giving easy chances to their opponents.

“Every game is going to be different so what we did on Sunday is not going have a knock-on effect on the next Premier League game,” the Spaniard said.

“I think the team is clearly improving and taking a direction that I like. All the time I say it’s about the consistency. We’re still giving things to the opponent. We did it against

Benfica, we did it on

Sunday against a more dangerous team in short transitions. That’s something we have to eradicate to give ourselves the best possible chance.

“Everything I see attitude wise what we are creating as a group and the way we are playing within our model it looks much closer to what we want.”

Arteta did, however, reserve praise for Willian, Lacazette, Xhaka, Pepe and Luiz for their performances.

He said of Willian: “Yeah he was terrific, the same with the senior players, Laca (Lacazette) the way he played, Nico (Pepe) who had a big impact.

“And Granit, the heart and the passion he showed in every action I think it’s a good example for the rest of the players.

“And the same with David, for someone like him at his age to play again it was tough but he showed real attitude.” – Express Newspapers/The Independent