With 8 games of the Premier League Season left to play, Unai Emery’s Arsenal are currently 4th on the log, a point behind Spurs who are third and two ahead of fifth placed Manchester United. The race for a top four finish is congested more than ever before with Chelsea still in with a chance despite being sixth n the table. For Arsenal to maintain their current position and secure a spot for next season’s Champions League,there are areas they must improve on. Here are three of them…
Improve on the away form
Of the 8 game Arsenal are set to play, 5 will be away from their home comfort that is the Emirates Stadium. Last season, Arsenal won a total of 4 away games for the entire season and while the results have slightly improved under Unai Emery, away days remain a thorn in the team. Arsenal have so far dropped pints against, Brighton, Westham, and Crystal Palace on the road this season.
There is simply no margin for such errors this time round and the Gunners will have to be on point in their last 5 away matches if they are to play in the Champions League next season, there are no two ways about it!
Defensive solidity
Arsenal’s ability to gift chances to the position this season has been one of the few negatives of an otherwise positive campaign. Arsenal are the team who have conceded the most goals among teams in the top 6 on the table. Skodran Mustafi’s brain fart moments have caused the team a few wins so far this season hence why Unai Emery opts for Koscielny and Sokratis as his center back pairing. Injuries and fatigue however mean that the Spaniard will not always have his best defenders available thus having to rely on the likes of Mustafi every once in a while.
Whoever plays in defense will have to cut out any mistakes and those in front will need to chip in with a little effort too defensively.Should Arsenal do this, the Champions League paces are theirs for the taking!
Make their chances count!
Despite scoring almost freely this season, Arsenal forwards miss a lot of their chances. The best example being their 1-1 draw with bitter rivals Tottenham when their two very expensive strikers missed golden chances to win the match.
Should any Lacazette or Aubameyang had taken their chances, Arsenal would be third on the table as we speak, such is the difference a goal makes!
The likes of Alex Iwobi and Mesut Ozil will also need to contribute with goals in the run in to aid Arsenal’s search for Champions League football next season.
Where do you think Arsenal will finish come the end of the season? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below…