Arsenal must get back to basics quickly if they are not to surrender their proud record of qualifying for the Champions League, manager Arsene Wenger said on Sunday after a 3-0 defeat at top-four rivals Everton.
|Last Updated: Apr 07, 2014, 10:12 AM IST|Source: Reuters
London: Arsenal must get back to basics quickly if they are not to surrender their proud record of qualifying for the Champions League, manager Arsene Wenger said on Sunday after a 3-0 defeat at top-four rivals Everton.
An abysmal Arsenal performance at Goodison Park allowed Everton to move to within one point of the fourth-placed Londoners, meaning the last five games of the season will be nervy affairs for Wenger`s out-of-form side.
Arsenal, who have appeared in the Champions League for 16 consecutive seasons, still had a glimmer of hope in the title race before Sunday`s capitulation, now their top-four place looks in serious jeopardy.
With the Gunners playing in the FA Cup semi-final next weekend against second tier Wigan Athletic at Wembley, Everton can move into the top four if they avoid defeat away against bottom club Sunderland on Saturday.
"Everton were sharper, better and deserved to win," Wenger said after another poor showing against one of the top sides, following heavy defeats against Manchester City and Liverpool.
"Our performance was not convincing, defensively nor offensively.
"It`s a very disappointing result and a very disappointing performance, the two go together and we have to regroup, come back to basics and prepare well for our next game."
Arsenal have flirted with failure to finish in the top four several times during the last decade but have always found enough to fend off their rivals.
They have an easier run-in than Everton but with confidence low and the likes of Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil all injured, Wenger knows his side face a dogfight over the closing weeks of a campaign that is in danger of falling flat.
"I`m absolutely 100 per cent determined to fight to make the top four. But it will be difficult," Wenger said.
"We still have a programme that is feasible but we have first I think to focus on the quality of our performances before we dream of places. Let`s get back to playing better than that.
"The fight is very open and is not even depending only on us. It`s depending on Everton who are in a strong position.
"But the advantage we have is we have been confronted with that before and it`s down to how we respond to such a disappointing performance."
Arsenal offered little fight against an Everton side hitting form at just the right time, but Wenger refused to criticise his players` spirit.
"I wouldn`t question the spirit of this team. They are focused, they want to do well," he said.
"I just feel they have lost something on the confidence front and that you could see. We looked a little bit disjointed when we had to run after the score."
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.