Arsenal star pinpoints best hope for Champions League spot

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James Olley29 April 2019

Granit Xhaka has admitted Arsenal’s best hope of Champions League qualification may now come by winning the Europa League after another damaging defeat at Leicester City.

The Gunners lost their tenth Premier League game of the campaign at King Power Stadium as Youri Tielemans’ 59th-minute header and a late Jamie Vardy brace ensured the Foxes capitalised following Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ first-half red card.

Manchester United’s draw with Chelsea later in the day meant Arsenal clung on to fifth place but they are now two points behind the Blues with only a home clash with Brighton and a final day trip to Burnley ahead.

Unai Emery’s side play Valencia in their Europa League semi-final, first leg at Emirates Stadium on Thursday and when asked whether that competition now offered the clearest route back into the Champions League, Xhaka told Standard Sport: “If you are in the semi-final, of course [it is the best route]. If you are in the semi-final, you are two games from the final. I know anything can happen but if you are three games from the title, you have to think positive.

“It is not the right moment to think about the top four. We had three big chances, starting against Crystal Palace, Wednesday against Wolverhampton and finished on Sunday. If you don’t take three points in these games, we have not to speak about the top four at the moment.”

Maitland-Niles was dismissed in the 36th-minute after picking up an early yellow card for knocking over Ben Chilwell before receiving his marching orders following a late tackle on James Maddison.

Emery remonstrated with fourth official Chris Kavanagh – before throwing his jacket at the dugout – and later exchanged words with referee Michael Oliver as his frustration threatened to boil over. Xhaka contested the validity of Maitland-Niles’ red card but insisted the numerical disadvantage did not cost Arsenal the game.

“It is always easier if you play 11 v 11, everyone knows that, but it is not an excuse,” he said. “In the end, you have to fight 10 against 11. We tried our best but in the end [the second goal] killed us a little bit.

“The first yellow card is very harsh. In the beginning of the game, the first foul you have to give a yellow? It is a little bit harsh. The second is a second yellow, red card afterwards but the first you have to think a little bit.”

Xhaka admitted Arsenal’s confidence is dented after three successive League defeats and was at a loss to understand their poor form on the road, having won just six away games all season.

Another loss: Xhaka reacts during Arsenal's defeat at Leicester
Action Images via Reuters

“It is difficult to explain why we don’t play like we do at home and don’t take the points,” he said. “It is a different game away and at home. We have to play not like at home.

“You have to win the duels, you have to run more than the opposition because the fans are behind them, all the teams in the Premier League can play football and fight and if you don’t take the fight to them, it looks like yesterday.

“The confidence, you take only if you win, if you fight, if you have a good result. We are all disappointed in the dressing room and not happy, of course not, but we have to look forward and the next game is Thursday.

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