Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has not given up on
securing a top-four spot in the Premier League despite Sunday's 3-0 defeat at
Everton.
Strikes from Steven Naismith and Romelu Lukaku, along
with a Mikel Arteta own goal, condemned Arsenal to a fourth consecutive game
without victory as Everton moved a point behind Wenger's charges at Goodison
Park.
Roberto Martinez's men boast a game in hand on Arsenal
and are now in control of their own destiny when it comes to securing a first
return to the UEFA Champions League since 2005.
While Wenger was critical of Arsenal's showing, he
remains confident over reaching Europe's top club competition for a 17th
successive season.
"I'm absolutely 100 per cent determined to fight to
make the top four. It will be difficult but we still have a programme that is
feasible," he said.
"Our performance was not convincing, either
offensively or defensively. Everton were better than us and deserved to win and
it's a very disappointing result and a very disappointing performance - the two
go together.
"We have to regroup and come back to basics."
The Frenchman, who has seen Arsenal take just two points
from their last possible 12 available, also suggested their experience in
qualifying for the Champions League could serve them well.
"The fight is very open and not dependent only on
us," he added. "Everton is in a strong position but we have been
confronted with that before and it's down to how we respond to such a
disappointing performance.
"I still feel we had a lot of the ball but were not
really dangerous. Everton defended well and at the moment we lack the
confidence to be really dangerous and lack penetration as well.
"The penetration and the incisiveness of our game is
missing through the runs and through the passes. Those together make it difficult."
Culled from Soccerway
0 comments:
Post a Comment