Alex is up four race to the top
® ALEX IWOBI refuses to believe that winning the Europa League is Arsenal’s only chance of playing Champions League football next season.
The Gunners are now eight points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.
And they could be as many as 11 off the top four by the time they play their next Premier League, away to runaway leaders Manchester City in a fortnight’s time.
Boss Arsene Wenger took no chances by picking his strongest team for Thursday’s last 32 first leg clash, winning 3-0 at Swedish minnows Ostersunds.
But Iwobi insists, with 11 league games left, that Arsenal can still break into the top four.
“We have to do our best in both competitions,” said Iwobi.
“That’s what we are trying to do, get into the top four and win the Europa League. That’s the aim.”
Fined
Wenger has backed the 21-year-old, even after he was pictured leaving a party in the early hours the day before Arsenal’s embarrassing FA Cup third round defeat at Championship Nottingham Forest in January.
Iwobi was fined after admitting his mistake.
He has started seven of Arsenal’s last eight games and seems set to play an important part in their season, including the Carabao Cup final against City on Sunday week.
He added: “I’m still learning, I’m still young. Still learning from the lads like Mesut and Mkhitaryan. Every time I play, I am grateful.
“There is still a job to do in this tie and we have to do it at home. There is still half the tie to play.
“It was different playing on an artifical pitch but we adapted well.
“It was cold, but we are used to that in England. We did very well and deserved the result.
“Before we even start to think about the Carabao Cup Final, we have to get this tie out of the way.”
Wenger will rotate his squad for the second leg, now they have such a comfortable cushion.