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Wenger Targets Third Place Finish For Arsenal
The French tactician believes it is in the Gunners hands as they still have to play Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea this season.
Apr 11, 2009 3:52:22 AM
Arsene Wenger says Arsenal are homing in on a third place finish in the Premier League this season. He feels that it is more than possible to achieve this target.
With seven league games of the 2008-09 campaign remaining, the Gunners find themselves six points behind Chelsea and nine adrift of Liverpool.
With leaders Manchester United ten points clear of the north London outfit before playing their game in hand, the French tactician confesses the title is unlikely to end up at the Emirates Stadium this year.
However, the 59-year-old is focussed on consolidating their position within the Champions League qualifying spots and insists that overtaking Chelsea and possibly even Liverpool is a task within their own hands.
"We are on a very strong run at the moment and we want to keep that going, starting at Wigan this weekend," Wenger was quoted as saying in The Sun.
"We have to play Chelsea, Liverpool and United in the league, so we will have a massive influence on the title race, even if we are too far behind to win it now.
"Our first target is to get even further away from Aston Villa. But then we want to get as close as possible to Chelsea and Liverpool.
"Third place is very important this time because it means automatic qualification for the Champions League next season.
"If you finish fourth you go into the qualifying round and this time it will be an open draw, which means you can get anyone. Third place can make a massive difference."
Ricky Brooks, Goal.com
With seven league games of the 2008-09 campaign remaining, the Gunners find themselves six points behind Chelsea and nine adrift of Liverpool.
With leaders Manchester United ten points clear of the north London outfit before playing their game in hand, the French tactician confesses the title is unlikely to end up at the Emirates Stadium this year.
However, the 59-year-old is focussed on consolidating their position within the Champions League qualifying spots and insists that overtaking Chelsea and possibly even Liverpool is a task within their own hands.
"We are on a very strong run at the moment and we want to keep that going, starting at Wigan this weekend," Wenger was quoted as saying in The Sun.
"We have to play Chelsea, Liverpool and United in the league, so we will have a massive influence on the title race, even if we are too far behind to win it now.
"Our first target is to get even further away from Aston Villa. But then we want to get as close as possible to Chelsea and Liverpool.
"Third place is very important this time because it means automatic qualification for the Champions League next season.
"If you finish fourth you go into the qualifying round and this time it will be an open draw, which means you can get anyone. Third place can make a massive difference."
Ricky Brooks, Goal.com
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