Mikel Arteta has insisted that Arsenal can still make the Champions League at Tottenham’s expense despite their loss at St James’ Park.
Arsenal were second best throughout the ninety minutes yesterday as Newcastle put on a show in front of their fans in what was a celebratory atmosphere in the final home game of the season.
In the end, it could be argued that even the 2-0 score line flattered the Gunners, who remain two points behind Tottenham heading into their final game of the season against Everton.
Spurs know that they only need a draw away at Norwich to seal Champions League qualification, with their goal difference being 15 better than their North London rivals.
In their post-match analysis on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, both Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville insisted that Arsenal’s hopes of a fourth place finish are now done and dusted.
However, Arteta insisted that anything is still possible ahead of the final game of the season.
When asked if he still believes his side can finish fourth, the Spaniard told Football.London: “We need to win and we need a defeat for them.
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“We know that in football anything is possible. You have to be there. Today we have to swallow all the poison that we can and tomorrow start again.”
However, Arteta admitted that Arsenal’s performance at St James’ Park was not one expected of a side with Champions League aspirations.
When asked about this being the second year in a row that the Gunners after fallen at the penultimate hurdle after their loss in the Europa League semi-final against Villarreal last season, he responded: “There are a lot of similarities to that.
“We have six or seven players out and at the time Aubameyang had the header and it hits the post.
“Then it’s personality or not personality. The situation is that it was a very different game against Spurs with what happened. Today we were nowhere near the level we need to be at to play in the Champions League.”
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Both at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday and at St James’ Park yesterday, it was evident that the Arsenal players struggled to cope with the pressure.
That was always the risk of having such a young squad and there is no question in my mind that Spurs under Conte are much better equipped to handle Champions League football next season than Arsenal are.
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