Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes his side is ready to put their best foot forward in the remainder of the season, and insists that getting back in to the top four of the Premier League will be the priority.
The Gunners are currently sixth in the league standings, four points away from a Champions League spot, and are on the back of a hard fought 2-2 draw against Liverpool on Sunday.
But the Frenchman will be hoping to get back to winning ways and grab an important three points when they host Queen Park Rangers on Boxing Day, before they gear up to take on fourth placed West Ham United and then fifth placed Southampton in quick succession.
And Wenger is hopeful that despite the difficult Christmas schedule the Emirates Stadium outfit will be able to achieve the maximum points and start the New Year on a positive note, insisting that with most of the players returning from injuries in 2015, his side will be aiming for brilliant performances in the Champions League and the FA Cup, besides going for the top four spot in the English top-tier.
ai???Our Christmas is not an easy schedule – it’s a tough schedule. There are three games in a very short period of time and we can make up pointsai???, the manager was quoted as saying by ITV.
ai???It’s a period where you have an opportunity to make points. Our opponents will think that as well, but let’s just put the performances in and capitalise on it.
ai???I believe 2015 can be very exciting if we manage to get our injured players back and have a good runai???, the 65-year-old further added.
ai???Finishing in the top four is always the minimum required here. We have the Champions League and we have the FA Cup and we want to come back in a much stronger position in the Premier League, and I think we will.ai???
The manager also heaped praise on QPR striker Charlie Austin, who has scored 11 league goals this season including a match-winning hat-trick against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
The 25-year-old was playing outside the Football League with Poole Town five years back, and Wenger believes the youngsterai??i??s rise is a proof of his hunger to succeed and says a lot about the talent in the lower leagues.
ai???It’s good to see that an English striker who had played in lower divisions has managed to come up,ai??? he said via the BBC.
ai???That shows mental strength and tenacity – and that is important at the top level.
ai???It could bring on the idea that there could be other players down there who are good enough to come up to the Premier League but don’t get a chance.ai???
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