Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright admits that the Gunners have missed an opportunity to get into the top four this season, amid the recent results for Chelsea and Tottenham.
Arsenal's hopes of finishing in the top four are all but over after a 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion at the Emirates Stadium yesterday (Sunday), which leaves them three points behind their north London rivals Tottenham with one game to play.
But not only would the Gunners need to beat Burnley at Turf Moor on the final day, while also hoping for an Everton win against Spurs, Unai Emery's side would also need an eight-goal swing in their favour owing to an inferior goal difference.
As such, Wright admits that the Gunners are now unlikely to qualify for the Champions League via the Premier League, but he says that they only have themselves to blame after failing to take advantage of their rivals dropping points in recent weeks.
“I think when you consider what Arsenal are going through up to this point with a new manager, a new system and what he’s trying to do, for Arsenal to get into third or fourth place because of the form of others, it was a fantastic opportunity for them and one that has been missed," Wright said, speaking on BBC programme Match of the Day 2.
“They didn’t take full advantage of it and when you consider the games, three losses and a draw, it’s a run of fixtures where people are saying Arsenal should be winning.”
But Wright has been full of praise for the performances of two players in the Arsenal side; Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.
Aubameyang netted his 20th goal of the season in the league in the 1-1 draw with Brighton, with it being his 26th goal in all competitions this season, while Lacazette has netted 18 times during the course of the campaign, which has included some vital strikes in the league and in Europe.
Alexandre Lacazette announces himself among Europe's elite - now Arsenal must join him there
And Wright has summed up how Arsenal fans are thinking about the two strikers, as the Gunners continue to push for success in the Europa League, with the second leg of their semi-final against Valencia to come on Thursday.
“You dread to think where Arsenal would be if those two weren’t firing like they have been," said Wright.
"Especially [Alexandre] Lacazette recently, he’s been absolutely magnificent.”
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