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da spicy bet： Arsenal manager Unai Emery is still confident of the club finishing in the top four this season, despite their 3-1 defeat to Wolves on Wednesday, per BBC Sport.
The Gunners are now fifth, one point behind Chelsea and four behind third-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
What’s the word?
Arsenal turned in a roundly terrible display against Nuno Espirito Santo’s side on Wednesday.
They dominated possession but had very little to show for it, failing to truly test goalkeeper Rui Patricio and ultimately falling to an embarrassing defeat.
The result continues Arsenal’s woeful away record this season – they have won just six times on the road, fewer than both Leicester City and Crystal Palace.
With three games of the season remaining, the Gunners play at home once, against Brighton & Hove Albion, and travel to Leicester City and Burnley.
And Emery, despite what the formbook might tell you, remains confident that the Gunners can secure a top-four finish.
He said, per BBC: “We lost from our hands the opportunity for fourth, but we can also recover this opportunity.”
Emery admits that it will be “difficult” for Arsenal to overhaul Chelsea, who play top-four rivals Manchester United this weekend, but is choosing to remain optimistic.
He added: “Top four is the target, a difficult target.
“We have lost in the last two matches, to Crystal Palace and here, but the last three matches we play in the Premier League we have opportunities.
“Generally we are disappointed but we need to look at all the season. We need to prepare as best as possible for Leicester. Again it is very difficult but hopefully we can take something.”
Form guide makes for grim viewing
This really doesn’t appear very likely.
Arsenal’s form has taken a nosedive at the worst possible time and they have suffered three defeats in their last five Premier League games.
Trips to both Leicester and Burnley are tricky, with the Foxes offering the attributes that the Gunners hate: pace and physicality.
It remains to be seen if Arsenal can correct the course but, with the fixture list as it is, there is precious little reason for Emery to be optimistic.
Perhaps he has to say it. After all, he can’t really believe it.