Former Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas says that in his opinion Arsenal should not even have been in the running for a top four spot this season.
The Gunners look set to just miss out on a place in the top four in the Premier League, with Arsenal three points behind north London rivals Tottenham with one game left to play.
Arsenal also have an inferior goal difference and would need a win against Burnley at Turf Moor, coupled with a defeat for Spurs at home against Everton and an eight-goal swing to secure fourth spot.
But Jenas says he feels that Arsenal have actually done well to get as close as they have to qualifying for the Champions League via their league position, as he delivered a brutal assessment of the current Gunners' squad, who have reached the final of the Europa League.
“I have been saying all year about Arsenal that it is unbelievable what they have done this year," Jenas said, speaking on BBC programme Football Focus.
“Arsenal’s failures are only failures on the basis that Tottenham and Chelsea have been so poor that it gave Arsenal a chance to get that top four position.
“They shouldn’t have even been in the top four conversation for me, in my opinion, with the squad Unai Emery is working with.
“He has done an unbelievable job, I think the players have played to the best of their capabilities and they have still got a chance of getting the top four. So Arsenal fans are looking it as a negative that they haven’t made the top four, but they have still got a chance, and I just think it’s a good season.
“Summer is a big time for recruitment, but I think he has done a brilliant job, Unai Emery, I don’t see it as being a negative, I really don’t.”
For all your latest Arsenal news, opinion, analysis and transfer gossip, click here
Keep up to date with the latest news, features and exclusives from football.london via the free football.london app for iPhone and Android .
Available to download from the App Store and Google Play .
