Emiliano Martinez says Arsenal must make sure they finish above Tottenham this season after making their fans suffer by losing the north London derby on Sunday.
Arsenal lost 2-1 to Spurs after Alexandre Lacazette’s brilliant opening strike was cancelled out by goals from Son Heung-min and Toby Alderweireld.
The win means Tottenham have leapfrogged Arsenal in the table and they sit eighth, two points clear of the Gunners in ninth, with three games to go.
Martinez admits he knows how much Sunday’s defeat will have hurt fans and the squad are now determined to catch and overtake Tottenham.
“Every season we try to finish above them,” said Martinez. “We need to make sure we finish above them.
“Our target is Europe, that is the reality. We are going to try and give our best against Liverpool [on Wednesday] and reach the FA Cup Final.
“We didn’t start like the manager wanted, we were giving the ball away for no reason.
“As time was going on we started playing well, we controlled the midfield and we outplayed them. I feel sorry for the supporters because we know what it means for them.”
Sunday was goalkeeper Martinez’s first north London derby as he once again filled in for the injured Bernd Leno.
The Argentina international gave a good account of himself with a number of smart saves, but he says his own performance counts for nothing after losing.
“I am not proud at all, I hate losing,” Martinez added. “I hate it to be honest.
“I know what it means to supporters, we made two silly mistakes with the goals and we have gave them two chances. It is what it is.
“We completely outplayed them in the second-half, when we play that well we need to score goals.
“I thought we created chances but not enough to score. Auba had a great chance and then Hugo [Lloris] made a great save. We have to put them in.”
