Premier League giants Arsenal appear to be in rip roaring form this season, having secured 28 points from an available 33 in their last 11 games. There are questions surrounding whether the Gunners can sustain this form over the next fixtures, to end a five year drought outside of the top 4. 

Wenger’s Arsenal were known for being synonymous with that 4th place position in the Premier League. The 4th place has a meaning to it unlike any other Premier League position. Fourth place secures the team Champions League football, a competition that all players aspire to take part in. 

Since the inauguration of the new English Premier League format that kicked off in the 02/03 season, Arsenal have only finished outside of the top 4 five times, with each of these five times having come in the last 5 years, but as it currently stands, it’s looking a lot like the gunners are ready to move out of this half decade slump, and regain entry into Europe’s biggest competition.

With that said however, there is still plenty of work to be done in order for Arsenal to regain their once famed position. While the team have been performing at an increasingly high level, this season has proven that fixtures against the other traditional top four teams have not gone their way. 

Heavy defeats to Liverpool and Chelsea early on in the season had many asking if Arsenal would be relegated, but even later on in the season, the Gunners have been either unable to perform against these teams, or simply haven’t managed to close out leads against them. 

This was the case against Man City back in January, where the Gunners put on one of the best footballing displays the club has seen in recent history. After a scintillating first half full of dominance, the Gunners were overcome after receiving a red card, and two goals against the run of play, which saw the inferior City take all three points. 

The same can be said when the gunners lost to United back in December, where again they showed dominance for the majority of the game, but could not close out, eventually losing 3-2. The one team Arsenal have struggled against perhaps most this season have been Liverpool, who are one of the teams they are set to face in these last fixtures of the season. 

Arsenal have succumbed to the Reds twice this season (once in the EPL, once in the EFL Cup), having drawn the other game. 

Currently, betting sites in South Africa have priced Arsenal chances to finish in the top four at 1.40, which compared to their competitors is exceptionally favorable. 

The goal for Arsenal in the upcoming games will be to stay focussed, and of course claim as many points from the upcoming games as possible. There are three games in the last few fixtures that are worrying Arsenal fans most, including their upcoming clash with Liverpool, their face off with old foes United, and their final game against Everton. Their other matches all require the same level of effort and concentration, however the teams mentioned above all have proven track records of beating the gunners. 

While the top four is within reach, there is still much to be done.