The Gunners are currently sitting in Third Place with 51 points ahead of tonights match at QPR, and according to Arsene Wenger, Arsenal need another 21 to be certain of a Top Four finish. He was asked directly how many he thinks they would need. After careful consideration, he replied: “Seventy-two,”
“People have finished in the top four with 67 points, but if you look at this year we have 51 points now. So it will be in the 70s. It is a tough run-in but it will be similar to last year.
“Look, have you seen the quality of the teams behind us? Southampton, Tottenham, Liverpool, Manchester United. The best way is to look forward and go as fast as we can.
“It will be down to consistency because mathematically it is not impossible for the guys behind us to catch us, but also for us to catch the teams in front of us. You just have to focus on yourself and win the next game.”
So to be sure of reaching that total we need to win 7 of our 11 remaining games. I win tonight would be a good start as we would then only have to win six more, and we have six more home games!
Those games are against West Ham, Liverpool, Sunderland, Chelsea, Swansea and West Brom on the last day of the season. Okay the Pool and the Champions-elect may cause us problems, but surely we can win the other four given our recent form.
The away games after tonight are Newcastle, Burnley and Hull and ending with the (hopefully un-needed) trip to Old Trafford to face Man United. I will push my luck and say we WILL beat Hull and Burnley, and with the four easy-ish home games then 72 points should be a doddle! But first off all we have to win tonight to set up that scenario…..