TOP PHWOAR Champs League a real Tiern on
KIERAN TIERNEY insists cracking the top four would make it a great campaign for Arsenal.
After their last chance of silverware this season disappeared with Thursday’s Carabao Cup semi-final loss to Liverpool, the Gunners have only the league to focus on.
And that means targeting qualification for the Champions League – something that has eluded the North Londoners for the past four years.
Scottish international Tierney has revealed just how vital it is for Arsenal to be back in contention for the top four – both in the short and long-term.
Ahead of today’s visit of struggling
Burnley,
The
Emirates defender said: “As an Arsenal player, you know the standards of the club and you know what the expectations are.
“But you also know where we’ve been in the last years as well.
“Fourth place is a good position. It is good progress for us – and it’s something we can build on.”
How times have changed. Arsene Wenger was often ridiculed for daring to suggest reaching the Champions League was the equivalent of a trophy for the club.
Now, having been excluded from Europe’s elite since 2016-17, nobody at Arsenal would dispute that view of their former French boss. Certainly not
Tierney. The £25million ex-Celtic ace said: “Of course, Arsenal belong in the Champions League.
“But, obviously in the last few years we haven’t done that. So that would be great progress for the club.”
The good news in that respect is that after four victories from their last six league outings, Mikel Arteta’s men are right back in the thick of the top-four battle.
However, those around them have also been winning, including bitter rivals Tottenham and
Ralf Rangnick’s Manchester
United.
All of which dictates the
Gunners can afford no silly setbacks against sides in the bottom half – starting with Sean Dyche’s relegationthreatened troops this afternoon.
Between now and April 30, Arsenal are not scheduled to face anybody currently above them in the table – seemingly providing them with the perfect opportunity to put their foot down after the imminent winter break.
Tierney, 24, added: “There are games you need to be winning to keep the distance in the table with the teams under you.
“We know it’s going to be tough but these are the months to do it. This is the part of the season where you want to set your eyes on a target and know what you need to get there.
“But it’s something you have to do on a game-by-game basis.
“If you go on runs, you don’t know what can happen – good or
bad.”