Wenger: Plenty to think about
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits that his side may have become complacent about qualifying for the Champions League.
The Gunners have featured in the Champions League for 16 consecutive seasons, but risk losing out this time around after being passed by Everton in the race for fourth spot.
It is the Goodison Park outfit who will claim the final qualifying berth if they win the remainder of their matches‚ with the Toffees currently on a seven–match winning streak‚ a period in which Arsenal have claimed just two victories.
Wenger concedes that Arsenal may have begun to feel that they were guaranteed of at least fourth spot and relaxed, leaving them vulnerable to a late charge from Everton.
“Maybe yes, we felt anyway ‘that is done’‚” said the Frenchman.
“We have had a difficult schedule (this season) and the weight of a negative result‚ the mental aspect of a negative result in a big game‚ is massive. To deal with that is very difficult and when you have a succession of big games one after the other‚ if you lose the first one you are always in trouble.”
“For many years I was sitting here and had to convince you that it was important that we were in the top four – now it is in a reverse position‚ you say to me ‘you realise how important it is for us′‚” he added.
“It is vital to me to do it. I want this club to play in the top level competition‚ and for that you want to be in the Champions League.
“What will be an advantage is our desire to play in this competition because we love the Champions League and just to imagine how much we love it will help us to achieve it.
“The pain of not having it? I would like them (the players) rather to concentrate on the pleasure to be in it.”
Source: VIQI News
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