Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger admits the battle to finish in the top four “is very tight” at the moment.
The French boss is however confident his side can pip Manchester City to a second-placed finish in the Premier League this season after Sunday’s home win over Everton projected his Gunners to within four points of the defending champions.
Yet, five points separate third-placed Arsenal and sixth-placed Southampton in the race for Uefa Champions League qualification, but Wenger is confident his side can make top-four finish.
“The only thing I can say is that it (the table) is very tight,” he said in his pre-match conference ahead of the trip to Queens Park Rangers (QPR) on Wednesday night.
“Look in front of you, Man City is four points ahead of us, look behind you and there are plenty of people chasing us.
“It (race to finish in the top four) will of course be very, very tight and it will be down to consistency in our results and mental strength.”
City squandered chances to close gap on leaders Chelsea at the top of the table with their defeat by Liverpool (fifth-placed) on Sunday at Anfield.
Asked if Arsenal could pip Manuel Pellegrini’s men to a runners-up berth by May, Wenger replied: “Look, if you ask a team who is four points behind us they will say is realistic to try to catch us. Man City is four points ahead of us, so mathematically of course that is possible.
“There is a long way to go, but when you’re in March the acceleration is there for the final sprint.
“What we have to do basically is not to look too much at other teams, just focus on what we want to do and how we can do it.”
Ramsey is back
Wenger delivered the latest Arsenal injury update on Tuesday, confirming that Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey is available while Francis Coquelin could feature but will have to wear protective mask as a cover for his broken nose.
Ramsey has not featured since the 2-1 league win over Leicester City at the start of February but has now recovered from a hamstring injury.
Fellow midfielder Coquelin suffered a broken nose during Sunday’s 2-0 win over Everton at the Emirates Stadium.
England international Jack Wilshere continues his recovery from a minor ankle operation he underwent last week. The midfielder is also ruled out of next Monday’s FA Cup quarter-final match at Manchester United.
January transfer window signing Krystian Bielik will play for the under-18s on Wednesday and Wenger does not expect the midfielder to play any part in the first team this season.
