Source: Team_Talk
Wenger wants to finish season on high
Arsene Wenger hopes Arsenal can end the season on a high after admitting they have been on a "downer" ever since their Champions League exit.[LNB] An injury-hit Arsenal have picked up just one point from four Premier League games since being taken apart by a Lionel Messi-inspired Barcelona in the Nou Camp.[LNB]Successive away defeats at Tottenham and then Wigan, when leading 2-0 with just 10 minutes left, saw any title hopes evaporate, before another defeat at Blackburn on Monday.[LNB]Indeed, victory on Sunday for Europa League finalists Fulham - who could well field a much-changed side - could see Tottenham beat the Gunners to third spot and with it automatic entry into the Champions League.[LNB]Wenger therfore has called on his side to produce one final vintage display.[LNB]"I know this match comes after a few disappointing results," he said.[LNB]"Since we have gone out of the Champions League there was a little downer in our heads, but we have enough pride and quality to finish the season well and to secure the third place."[LNB]Wenger continued: "The concern is that at the moment we have many, many players out and as well that we just lost the games without any real logic.[LNB]"We lost at Wigan, we lost at Blackburn on controversial things which are difficult to accept - but we have to live with it and we have to secure the third place which will guarantee us the Champions League spot."[LNB]Wenger believes the Gunners should have already been secure of finishing in the top three once again.[LNB]"I am surprised, because I thought we would make the points before now," he said. "But I knew that we had difficult games and that there could be something at stake.[LNB]"However, it is not too bad - it is good to have something at stake and we have an opportunity to go for third place."[LNB]Theo Walcott feels Arsenal owe their supporters a big performance in their final match of what has been another season of frustration at Emirates Stadium.[LNB]The England World Cup hopeful called for the team to take the "next step" as they look to last the distance when the battles start all over again come August.[LNB]"We want to end on a high and that is important for the fans too, then everybody can be ready for next season," Walcott said.[LNB]"When a lot of big teams come to the Emirates, it has not been a fortress at all.[LNB]"We have been brushed aside at times and next year we need to go one step further."[LNB]Walcott added: "We have not won matches we should have and we have not guaranteed third place yet, which is very disappointing.[LNB]"We have to guarantee third because it is very important for the club - you don't want to qualify fourth at all."
