The month of April was supposed to be a terrible month that should have determined the failure of coach Mikel Arteta to help Arsenal qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League campaign. But the coach and his team have found a way of reigniting their hope of finishing in the top four on the Premier League table.
Futballnews has reported that Arsenal faced their London rival, Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night, April 20, 2022. To the dismay of many football enthusiasts, coach Mikel Arteta and his boys stunned the reigning UEFA Champions League winners 4-2 away from home.
Ahead of the Premier League game, Chelsea was expected to defeat Arsenal convincingly just as they did in their first league meeting with Arsenal this season. The fact that Chelsea won their last two games was supposed to give the hosts an edge over an inconsistent Arsenal side, but the reverse was the case on Wednesday.
Note that before coach Mikel Arteta led Arsenal to face coach Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea on Wednesday, Arsenal lost three consecutive Premier League games – they lost 3-0 against Crystal Palace on April 4, they lost 2-1 against Brighton on April 9, and then 1-0 against Southampton on April 16.
These three successive defeats came after March in which Arsenal won three of their four Premier League games. Then, Arsenal looked so good that many thought they would sit comfortably on the 4th spot before now.
But things turned upside down for the Gunners in April until they met Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, a stadium that is gradually becoming Chelsea’s biggest problem. Recall that coach Thomas Tuchel has lost five games in 25 home matches since he became the coach of the club. The club’s heaviest defeats this season happened at Stamford Bridge and Arsenal continued with the new culture on Wednesday.
After the 4-2 victory over Chelsea, coach Mikel Arteta stressed that the victory could inspire his players to keep believing that they could finish in the top four and qualify for Champions League football.
Note that Arsenal were three points behind 4th placed Tottenham Hotspur before the Premier League game against Chelsea on Wednesday. Their 4-2 victory over The Blues left them with 57 points in 32 games, equal points with 4th placed Tottenham.
Coach Mikel Arteta said: “I think it will help because it gives you confidence and belief you can do it on the biggest stage, away from home against the top teams in this league.
“That’s the game that we had in hand. I said to them if you want to play Champions League football you have to come to places like this and win. Tonight we’ve done it and I’m really proud of them tonight, but I’m more proud of how they’ve reacted to every defeat over the past few weeks. Not only the players but as a staff and a club, and that’s what reinforces me and reminds me of how lucky I am to be here.
“What I love is the spirit of these players. When you lose matches, you get punished, you get criticized but for these players, I don’t care because it’s so worth it. They are phenomenal people and as a group, they are really growing. To win a London derby away from home and how we did it, I am really happy.”
🗣️ “Confidence-wise, energy-wise, belief-wise it’s a big boost. We have the youngest team in this league, we rely on all of them… They are taking this challenge and responsibility.”
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) April 20, 2022
Mikel Arteta reacts to the Gunners’ stunning 4-2 victory over Chelsea!#beINPL #CHEARS #AFC pic.twitter.com/mGqYMSoG4g
What next for coach Mikel Arteta and his effort to help Arsenal finish in the top four
As it stands, Arsenal’s chance of finishing in the top four is totally under the control of coach Mikel Arteta and his team. The easiest way to ensure that they achieve their dream of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League ahead of the 2022-2023 season is to ensure that they win their remaining 6 league games.
Arsenal’s next Premier League game is against struggling Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium on April 23 at 12:30. Once they beat Manchester United, the Red Devils would be totally out of the top four race.
After that, Arsenal will face high-flying West Ham United on May 1 at London Stadium, then hosts Leeds United on May 8, 2022.
If Mikel Arteta and his boys do not suffer any defeat before May 12, their away game against Tottenham Hotspur will determine which team would finish on the fourth spot between Spurs and the Gunners.
After that, Arsenal will seal the 2021-2022 Premier League season with an away game against Newcastle United on May 16 and a home game against relegation-threatened Everton on May 22.
🗣 “After 2 difficult weeks it’s a great day.”
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) April 20, 2022
Mikel Arteta praises Chelsea’s tactical play, yet happy with Arsenals display and the 3 points pic.twitter.com/uPY3kBVAvA
