Arsenal
Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno believes new boss Mikel Arteta can help the Gunners secure top four finish
Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno believes that new boss Mikel Arteta can help the Gunners secure a top-four finish in the Premier League.
Arteta inherits a side that is currently floundering in 11th place after their terrible start under former manager Unai Emery and caretaker manager Freddie Ljunbjerg.
There is still a small chance that the Gunners are able to secure Champions League football via the league as they are only 9 points adrift of 4th placed Chelsea.
Leno is adamant that under their new manager that they are able to reduce the deficit and that they are still in the race for top four.
They still have a chance of qualifying for Champions League by winning the Europa League but they have been handed a tough draw despite finishing top of their group.
The Gunners will face Greek side Olympiacos who finished third in their Champions League that contained European giants Bayern Munich and Arsenal’s arch-nemesis Tottenham Hotspur.
The German shot-stopper has been one of the shining lights in what has been a dismal season for the Gunners thus far and has stated that the team have shown a great mentality, particularly in their last fixture in the league.
Arsenal drew 0-0 against Everton in a bore-fest but it was the first clean sheet that the Gunners had kept in 15 matches in all competitions.
Leno also revealed that Arteta had a talk with the players before and after the match where the keeper stated that the Spaniard asked for the players to work as a team.
The 27-year-old also stated that the former Arsenal midfielder is the right man to push this squad and his talk inspired the players.
The Gunners have only amassed 23 points in 18 games and have a negative goal difference of -3 as they have been very leaky at the back and misfiring upfront.
With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette both stalling on signing new deals despite the arrival of Arteta, the Gunners might have to look in the transfer market for potential replacements.
Arteta will have to have a miraculous turnaround for the Gunners to be able to reach the top four as the likes of Manchester United and Tottenham, who are also out of the top four, are hitting better form.
