Gary Neville rates Arsenal’s top four hopes as 50/50

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Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has delivered his verdict on Arsenal’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

Arsenal are in the box seat but Neville said on the Overlap that he rates their chances as 50/50 as the business end of the season approaches.

He also said that if Mikel Arteta was really hard-nosed about it, he could see fourth as the limit of his ambitions, rather than a stepping stone to better things.

“I really like Arteta, I think he’s a brilliant coach,” said Neville.

“What is success? Tottenham under Daniel Levy have won one trophy in 20-odd years. With Arsenal, my point is if Mikel Arteta finishes fourth this year – and it’s still 50/50, there’s a long way to go – that’s almost as good as he probably can get.

“That’s sad. Pep, Klopp, United, Chelsea – where can (Arsenal) go? They’re not going to compete. United will recover. Finishing above Arsenal, that won’t take too much recovery. I love it when I see a team and the maximum is being achieved with those players. I can see exactly how he wants to play.

“But if he gets to fourth, and if he’s really hard about it, he goes ‘that’s the best I can do, I’m going now’. I want to do my next job. It sounds crazy…”

Neville’s view seems a little short sighted. Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp will not be at their clubs forever. Nobody could have predicted the off-field situation at Chelsea and they tend to hire and fire their managers.

Manchester United have struggled to get beyond Arsenal and the Gunners currently look better placed to push on in the years ahead.

It was also reported earlier this week that everyone at Arsenal is delighed with Arteta and he is fully expected to sign a new contract at the club.

Getting back to European football’s top table, ahead of schedule, would be a great feather in the cap for the Arteta project, and Arsenal would hope to push on from there if they can make some important signings.