Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta hailed his players’ ability to avoid slipping down the Premier League table like Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United after suffering injuries this season.
All three teams have struggled with their own injury crises throughout the season but while Arsenal have managed to stick around the top five and challenged Liverpool for the Premier League title, Spurs and United have struggled. The Gunners’ historic rivals have been left floundering in the bottom half of the table this season.
While never in danger, both clubs sit just outside the relegation places but one shall qualify for next season’s Champions League as they face off in Bilbao on Wednesday night in the Europa League final. The winner of that tie will be in the league phase of the Champions League next season.
Reflecting on the Gunners’ season, Arteta took a slight dig at Tottenham and United. “Well we are clearly very disappointed because we wanted to be here with the Premier League or the Champions League and it is not the case,” he told Sky Sports.
“But chasing a dream has its ups and downs but make sure that it doesn’t get blurry and it does get recognised what we have done because any other team, and I have seen it with one injury, [you can end up] finishing eighth, 16th or 17th. So this team to go through the season and sustain this level is incredible.
“We don’t want anyone to value it but me, as a manager, has to value what this team has done.” Due to their goal difference, Arsenal look set to finish second in the Premier League this season with a win expected at bottom club Southampton on the final day.
As for Ruben Amorim and Ange Postecoglou’s sides, they can only finish as high as 14th this season but that could slip away from them if Wolverhampton Wanderers beat FA Cup winners Crystal Palace in midweek.
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