Gunners set sights on second place

ARSENE Wenger has challenged his Arsenal side to finish the season unbeaten and secure second place in the English Premier League.

The Gunners cruised to a 3-1 win at Hull City on Monday, their tenth straight match unbeaten all but securing a top-four finish for the 18th successive season.

Chelsea were crowned champions on Sunday but Wenger said finishing second for the first time in a decade was an important target in a campaign that could yet end with holders Arsenal retaining the FA Cup in a Wembley final against Aston Villa later this month.

“For me it makes a difference,” the Arsenal manager said. “We want to finish as high as we can.

“That’s a competitive attitude,” the veteran French boss said. He has been in charge of the north London giants since September 1996.

“We’ve secured only top four. Let’s see if we can maintain the run.

“We set ourselves a target to continue to make progress as a team and this was a demonstration that we can improve and keep the quality high.”

Inconsistency in the first half of the season proved costly for a club last crowned champions 11 years ago.

Asked whether Arsenal could mount a title challenge next season, Wenger said: “Ask me in August. Give me a breather. What is at stake now is to finish second.

“We want to continue to win our games as we’re doing now.

“I’m not a prophet. Football is unpredictable, no one knows how strong teams will be at the start of the season. What is important is to start strong.

“We want to finish as high as we can. It’s about giving your maximum until the last day,” Wenger said. – AFP