We are now into the final week of the 2021/22 Premier League season and Arsenal's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League are very much alive and there's still a chance to claim the title of 'London's best'.
With Europa League football already guaranteed, the Gunners met their target for the campaign with a few games to spare. But manager Mikel Arteta doesn't want his side to settle for finishing fifth - which would be the club's highest finish since his appointment in December 2019.
"No. We want to be playing in the Champions League, and that’s the end," the Spaniard told reporters when asked if fifth place would be cause for celebration. "We’ve come so far. It’s in our hands and we want to now capitalise on that and the excitement and the opportunity’s there, and we will really want to go for it."
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Following Chelsea's win over Leeds United last Wednesday and then losing 3-0 to Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby 24 hours later, the Gunners' chances of finishing third and thus being the highest-placed team from the capital are unlikely, although finishing fourth is on the cards despite dropping to fifth after Spurs beat Burnley on Sunday afternoon.
If Arteta's side are to be back at Europe's top table next season, they'll almost certainly need to win their two remaining games of the campaign - starting with Monday night's trip to Newcastle United and then on Sunday at home to Everton. In this scenario, it would not matter if Spurs overcome Norwich City on the final day.
But what happens if Arsenal fail to win at St James' Park? Well if the game ends in a draw the Gunners would then need to beat Everton and hope Spurs don't beat an already relegated Norwich away from home. However, a defeat against Newcastle would leave Arsenal needing to beat the Toffees and hope Spurs lose at Carrow Road as Antonio Conte's side have a superior goal difference if the two teams finish level on points.
For the Gunners to catch Chelsea in third they must first beat both Newcastle United and Everton and then hope the Blues lose against Leicester City and Watford - but even the most ambitious of Arsenal fans would probably accept this is perhaps the unlikeliest of scenarios.
In regard to the battle between the north London pair, football.london have explained the potential nightmare scenario facing Arteta where Arsenal could finish fourth with an identical record to Spurs - in terms of goal difference, head-to-head record, as well as same goals scored and conceded - but then lose a Champions League play-off which would see them qualify for the Europa League instead.
However, barring an outrageous set of results this scenario won't become a reality, but knowing six more points at a minimum are required to qualify for the Champions League is very much the ideal situation for Arteta and his side can take a huge step towards that target on Monday night.
