Shkodran Mustafi hopeful Arsenal can qualify for Champions League
Thursday 11 May 2017 12:53, UK
Shkodran Mustafi says Arsenal are still in the hunt for a Champions League spot, although he regrets the Gunners not finding form earlier in the season.
Arsene Wenger's side looked completely out of contention for a top-four place a fortnight ago but successive wins over Manchester United and Southampton have reignited the club's challenge for Europe's elite competition.
Mustafi produced a commanding performance at the heart of a three-man defence as the Gunners ground out a 2-0 win over the Saints on Wednesday night.
The Germany international, who recently returned from a thigh injury, is hoping it is not a case of too little, too late for Arsenal this season.
Asked about Wenger's side finding their form at the right time, Mustafi replied: "Well I wish we found that before.
"But now we have three games and we have to give everything, like we did today, to try and get everything out of all the games. Hopefully at the end we'll reach our goals.
"It was an important game and it was a tough game as well. We knew that coming here is not easy to play, it's a good team, a team that like to play. I think we did well being patient in the first half.
"We had opportunities, they had one or two as well, so it was an open game but then in the second half we managed to come out and just keep playing our game, waiting and being patient until the opportunity came. We had a few opportunities and luckily we scored two."
Petr Cech captained the Gunners at St Mary's in the absence of the injured Laurent Koscielny and the Czech goalkeeper believes Arsenal have to win their remaining three games against Stoke, Sunderland and Everton if they are to stand any chance of qualifying for the Champions League.
"Recently we shot ourselves in the foot against Tottenham, because we did not get any points and obviously we left ourselves in the situation where we have to keep winning every game," said Cech.
"We are aware of the fact that we probably need to win all of our remaining games to be sure that we will be in the race until the last minute."
