Funnily enough, the team that Arsenal will be taking on next in the Premier League gives the Gunners one of the two big reasons for not slacking off in the remaining seven Premier League games. Southampton, who the Gunners take on at the Emirates stadium this weekend, may be having an awful league campaign that sees them currently sitting in the relegation zone, but they are one of the four clubs still in with a chance of winning the FA cup.
And if the Saints did go on to lift the famous old cup that Arsenal have had so much success with in recent years, then it would mean that the side who finish sixth would not get a Europa League spot for next season. Unless Arsenal win the Europa League this year that would leave us without those lucrative and exciting midweek games and although some people think that would help us in the league, it is not really what the club wants.
However, with Chelsea playing pretty badly and the Stamford Bridge club seemingly suffering from all sorts of internal trouble, there is a real chance that Arsenal could make up the gap of five points with a strong finish to the EPL.
The other big reason for Arsenal to ensure that we perform well in the remaining league games is the confidence and form that comes with a good run and how that could improve the chances of us winning the Europa League, so while he may want to rest the best players for the Thursday night games I think that Wenger should give almost as much focus to the league games, starting with the Saints this weekend.
Plus, how good would it be for us top leapfrog the Chelsea chavs before the end of the season?
Bob.
Bob.