Arsene Wenger has challenged his Arsenal squad to end the season with the belief they can deliver again in 2013.
The Gunners - who will be without midfielder Mikel Arteta after an ankle injury ruled him out of the rest of the season - host Chelsea on Saturday lunchtime aiming to bounce back from the disappointment of Monday night's shock 2-1 home defeat by Wigan.
Arsenal are currently five points ahead of fourth-placed Tottenham and Newcastle, and some seven in front of the Blues with a game in hand, and Wenger said: "Now our target must be to better what we did last season. A strong finish will be important for that reason, and also to give us the belief to enter 2012/2013 with confidence."
It has been a remarkable turnaround by Wenger's squad to fight their way back into Champions League contention following an appalling start - which saw them slump down as low as 17th place.
Wenger feels if for nothing else, the group deserve credit for the way they found consistency from such a testing spell, as a run of nine wins from 11, including seven successive victories, saw the Gunners overhaul Spurs, Chelsea and Newcastle.
"After losing four games in the first seven, to be where we are today is a remarkable achievement," the Arsenal boss said.
But despite Arsenal's resurgence, qualification for next season's elite European competition is far from guaranteed.
Indeed, should Chelsea, who on Wednesday night won the first leg of their semi-final against Barcelona 1-0 at Stamford Bridge, go on to lift the European Cup in Munich next month, but fail to finish in at least fourth place, then they would take the spot in next season's group stages and consign their rivals down to the Europa League.
Speaking about Arteta's injury, the Gunners boss told Arsenal Player: "It is season over for him, but he doesn't need surgery, which is what we were scared of.
"So he will be out for six to eight weeks. It is an ankle problem, but just a sprain."
Source: PA
