Top four is Arsenal’s to lose as they show they can compete with the Premier League’s big boys despite Liverpool defeat

A TOP-FOUR finish is Arsenal’s to lose DESPITE the 2-0 defeat to Liverpool.

At the start of the season, when the Gunners lost their first three league fixtures, there was a divide over whether Mikel Arteta was the right man for the job.

An embarrassing opening day defeat to league newcomers Brentford was followed up with losses to Chelsea and defending Premier League champions Manchester City, where they lost 5-0.

Some fans wanted Arteta gone, others said ‘trust the process.’

Well, six months on Arteta’s men have turned their season around and are back in control of their own destiny.

A mixture of high pressing out of possession and lighting fast counter attacks has the Gunners playing ‘The Arsenal Way’ again.

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A young manager has the control and the respect of his young team.

And the Spaniard wasn’t shy to rid the club of players who wouldn’t toe the line, like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Arteta’s tight ship leaves no room for inconsistency and they’ve seemed to cut out losing the banana-skin games… well at least in the league.

And against the big boys, win, lose or draw fans are leaving games feeling proud knowing their team gave it their all.

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For example, the narrow 2-1 loss at home to Man City – even the loss against Jurgen Klopp’s title-chasing Reds.

The Gunners were sharp in and out of possession but came unstuck with one world class pass by Thiago for Diogo Jota’s opener.

And Liverpool’s relentless pressing helped force a second home for the visitors.

But Arsenal’s defenders repelled the Reds’ pacey frontline for the most part.

Cedric – who is covering for the injured Takehiro Tomiyasu – marshalled Luis Diaz expertly, cutting the supply to Liverpool’s most dangerous starter on the night.

In midfield, Granit Xhaka – as controversial as he is to some Gunners fans – never lacks fight or passion, and he’s not half bad on the ball either.

And the academy has nurtured and produced their lively wide men Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe.

The youngsters took on arguable the two best full-backs in world football and at times had them desperately running back in the hope of stopping a goal, getting the crowd up onto their feet.

Temporary captain Alexandre Lacazette has also shown tremendous leadership since taking up the armband after Aubameyang’s disciplinary incident last year.

Lacazette is out of contract at the end of this season but he is playing like a man who wants to earn a new one and wants to stay and wear the club’s famous red and white colours.

Some will say not playing European football for the first time in 25 years has helped Arsenal and they’re not wrong.

Arsenal’s squad have benefitted from not having to play Thursday-night games, with three or more being played abroad.

Top-four rivals Manchester United have proven to be inconsistent and West Ham are struggling to meet the demands of competing in four competitions with a wafer-thin squad.

Noisy North London neighbours Tottenham aren’t too far behind, but boss Antonio Conte, like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his predecessor Ralf Rangnick at United, has struggled to get a consistent tune out of his side.

Arteta won’t be too bothered by tonight’s result – Arsenal are still a point ahead of United and have TWO games in hand.

As long as the Gunners stick to the basics and grind out results against teams they SHOULD be beating, they’re in with a real chance of playing Champions League football under the lights at the Emirates again.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk