Battle for fourth on a knife-edge as north London rivals boast same record and Xhaka tells rejuvenated Gunners: We’ve got six finals to play now... let’s show the same spirit
GRANIT XHAKA has warned Arsenal now face “six cup finals” in the battle for a Champions League place.
The Gunners have an identical record to bitterrivals Tottenham, having played 32 games, won 18, drawn three and lost 11, with only Spurs’ superior goal difference keeping them in fourth place.
It could all come down to the rearranged north London derby at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 12, with a lucrative place back among Europe’s elite the ultimate prize.
Arsenal looked like they had blown up after three straight defeats before their win at Chelsea on Wednesday night. Now they face top-four rivals Manchester United at the Emirates tomorrow and hope to turn up the pressure on Spurs, who travel to Brentford later in the day.
Midfielder Xhaka was outstanding at Chelsea and praised the spirit the players showed but says they must lift themselves again. Xhaka said: “We are there now again. We have six finals and the next one is Manchester United. We have to show the same character, the same spirit.
“We want to take the three points, we want to keep it going at home. And afterwards, the next week will be more quiet for us.”
It has felt like a hectic schedule for Arsenal despite already being out of the domestic cups and not in Europe this season.
But defeats to Crystal Palace, Brighton and Southampton were bruising, yet the players dug deep to get a response at Chelsea.
Manager Mikel Arteta insisted that shows how much it means to his men to finish in the top four, while the pressure is just as big for Spurs, who slipped up against Brighton last weekend.
Xhaka said: “The last three games
were very disappointing for us, with zero points. But we wanted to show a reaction and I think, over 90 minutes, we deserved to win the game against Chelsea.
“It was a great team performance, tactically amazing, and it’s a big three points for us.”
Arteta rolled the dice by starting with a back five to match up against Thomas Tuchel’s side, switching his tactics twice in the first half and yet, rather than formations, it was the spirit which saw Arsenal home.
Xhaka added: “They changed their formation as well, two or three times, so we had to adapt and trained all week on this. We were prepared very well.
“The guys worked very hard without the ball. When we had the ball, we created good chances to take the three points. It was a big game for us and the fans.”