Could Arsene Wenger guide Arsenal to a finish outside of the Top Four?

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It is something that seemed inconceivable only a few months ago, but now some Arsenal fans will be wondering whether on their current form they can even secure a top four finish and Champions League football next season. Whilst on the surface it seems a ridiculous question as they sit eight points ahead of Manchester United in fifth with only a couple of games to go, rivals United however have two games in hand which could close the gap to two points.

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With the current form of both sides, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that they could leap-frog Arsenal and consign the North London club to the Europa League next season. Were this to happen it would lead to serious questions surrounding the future of club legend Arsene Wenger, and would severely hamper the club’s attempts to sign world class players this summer.

A positive for Arsenal is that they are almost guaranteed three points in their final game of the season as they host a hapless Aston Villa who are of course already relegated. The only spanner in the works for Arsenal is that they have to face Manchester City at the Etihad next weekend, which will prove a very tough game. Both clubs are struggling for top form and a defeat for either side will bring them into the clutches of Man United.

The Old Trafford outfit have a tougher run-in, which starts with a crucial fixture at home against high-flying Leicester. The club can win the Premier League if they beat United and there will be huge pressure on Van Gaal to secure a win and keep alive their hopes of Champions League football next season. They also have to face well placed West Ham away before the end of the season, with two easier games to close out the season.

For Arsenal fans, the possibility of finishing outside the top four would be the straw that broke the camel’s back, and would only add a huge dose of fuel to the supporters fire in wanting Wenger to step down and be replaced. Fans have already began boycotting games as a protest, and a drop into the second tier of European competition would only further add to the rumours that players such as Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Özil are to leave the club.

It has been remarkable to see the shift from the title-challenging side that looked to be flying high to a team that currently looks like it’s lost a lot of motivation and just wants the season to end. The club have not been clinical enough in front of goal and this has severely hampered the team all season. Recent draws against Sunderland are only evidence of this. It’s clear that an area the club need to improve on is with its strikers. Olivier Giroud is a very good player, but it’s unclear if he can lead a title challenging side all season largely by himself, and his barren run recently has provided significant evidence to the contrary.

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When he’s on good form, Giroud is certainly underrated striker, but it doesn’t appear he can sustain it throughout a season. This is why the club needs to break the bank to sign a genuine world class striker this summer, as it would improve the team significantly whilst also sending a message to the rest of the Premier League that Arsenal are serious about becoming a title challenging side.

What happens to the club in the immediate future is unknown, although a top four finish needs to be a must for Arsene Wenger and his team. Only with Champions League football will be the club then be able to bring in the world class players they need to seriously challenge for the Premier League and in the Champions League for the coming years.

What do you think on Arsenal’s chances of a top four finish this season? Let us know in the comments section below.

Featured Image: All rights reserved by Stuart MacFarlane