Arsenal are close to losing Arsene Wenger ’s ‘first trophy’ for the third consecutive season with their Champions League hopes now hanging by a thread.
The Gunners were defeated 2-0 by Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Monday evening, an own-goal from Benjamin White and a strike by former transfer target Bruno Guimaraes costing them on a hugely underwhelming evening.
Defeat leaves Mikel Arteta ’s men fifth in the table heading into the final game of the Premier League season, two points behind North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. They now need to hope that Spurs fall to defeat against already-relegated Norwich City on the final day of the season, whilst Arsenal must overcome Frank Lampard's Everton at the Emirates Stadium to stand any chance.
Even if Spurs are held to a draw by the Canaries, then only a 15-goal swing would be enough for Arsenal to claim the final Champions League place. All signs point to the Gunners being in the Europa League next term - the third season in a row that they would miss out on a place at Europe’s top table since the appointment of Arteta.
Interestingly, iconic Gunners manager Arsene Wenger hailed a place in the Champions League as the club’s primary target ahead of anything else. The Frenchman led the club to 19 consecutive seasons in the competition during his spell in charge.
Speaking towards the end of the 2011/12 season - a campaign in which his side finished third - Wenger said: "The first trophy is to finish in the top four.
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“And that's still possible. I believe finishing fourth is vital for us, so let's focus on that."
Arteta’s expected failure to get the North Londoners back into the Champions League is certainly not a theme exclusive to the Spaniard. The club have not played top-level European football since the 2016/17 campaign, with that run now looking like being extended to five consecutive campaigns.
Despite Arteta having bettered the previous eighth-placed finishes during his tenure, he did nothing to hide his disappointment at what could potentially be a terminal blow at St James’ Park. Speaking in his post-match press conference, he said: “Really disappointed. Normally I sit here, I can defend what we've done.
“Today it's not easy. Newcastle were 100 times better than us in every department from the beginning to the end and it is very hard to accept it.”
However, he has refused to lose hope on the Gunners’ task and hinted that he is keeping his fingers crossed on a dramatic final day turnaround. “We need to win and we need a defeat for them,” Arteta continued.
“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.”
