Thomas Vermaelen is confident Arsenal will secure third place in the Premier League but admits they have allowed it to get very close.
Arsenal defender still confident of clinching third place
Thomas Vermaelen is confident Arsenal will secure third place in the Premier League but admits they have allowed it to get very close going into the final few games of the season.
The Gunners bounced back impressively from an appalling start to the season to find some consistency and overhaul Tottenham and Newcastle.
However, just when Arsene Wenger's men appeared set to comfortably clinch UEFA Champions League qualification, they suffered a surprise defeat at home to Wigan.
A goalless draw with Chelsea on Saturday allowed Newcastle to cut the gap to three points, with the Magpies still holding a game in hand.
Fifth-placed Spurs and Roberto Di Matteo's Blues remain in contention for a top-four spot and Vermaelen is predicting a tight finish, although he still sees Arsenal crossing the line in front of their rivals.
Interesting
"We didn't win the last two games, and they were really good chances to put ourselves into third place comfortably. At the moment we still have to fight for third place," said the Belgium centre-back.
"It will be a big effort for everybody to get that third place.
"It is not going to be easy, but that is because you play in England and it is not an easy league. Everybody can beat everybody.
"There are a lot of teams involved, ourselves, Tottenham, Chelsea and Newcastle. It is going to be tight, but it is going to be interesting.
"It is going to be hard to keep third place, but I am confident that we will."
