If the Gunners don't any points in their upcoming fixtures, they are assured of a top four finish and Champions League football next season.
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Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta was delighted with his side’s performance in the 3-1 win over Manchester United on Saturday. The victory helped the Gunners to move back to the fourth spot in the Premier League standings. If the Gunners don’t any points in their upcoming fixtures, they are assured of a top four finish and Champions League football next season.
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? THAT WINNING FEELING ? pic.twitter.com/m5SG26c4si
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 23, 2022
“A big performance in a game that had everything,” the Spaniard told BT Sport. “We had moments where we showed real quality and were a threat. We scored two goals, created chances, a game where we had to suffer and were a bit lost and lacking energy and they were on top.
“It was a game where we were really efficient in the boxes. We had luck when we needed it, which is really important. But overall, I’m extremely happy, it was a massive game for us and we enjoyed it.”
Nuno Tavares opened the scoring for Arteta’s side before Bukayo Saka doubled the lead from the penalty spot. Although Cristiano Ronaldo pulled one back for the Red Devils, Granit Xahaka’s second-half strike sealed the win for Arsenal.
“You have to write the story of the game,” Arteta said. “If I said Granit would have scored from there, he probably wouldn’t have done it. But that’s the beauty of this game. It’s always tough, every time they have the ball in the final third something can happen. We’re happy to win again.”
Xhaka’s 70th minute strike was undoubtedly the best goal of the match. The Swiss footballer’s thunderbolt effort from outside the box went past David de Gea and into the bottom corner. It was the midfielder’s first of the season and it was a much needed one for him.
“I was dreaming of that because he deserves it,” the manager said. If any fan would spend two minutes with Granit they would understand the person that he is and how much he loves the club.
“He opened up because he feels the environment is there to protect him. Thank you to the fans for that.”
Arsenal’s race for a top four finish isn’t getting any easier as they will next face seventh-placed West Ham on Sunday, before hosting Leeds United a week later and then, will travel to Tottenham Hotspur on May 13.
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