Arsenal 'did NOT expect to finish in the top four' this season

Arsenal ‘did NOT expect to finish in the top four this season with their recent bad form not affecting their long-term budgeting’ – as they ‘weigh up moves for Gabriel Jesus and Paulo Dybala’

  • Arsenal need to win and for Spurs to lose to finish in the top four this season
  • A finish outside the Champions League spots could affect summer spending 
  • However, reports are claiming that Arsenal never expected a top-four finish
  • This has meant that the Gunners’ summer budget has not been affected
  • Arsenal have been linked with moves for Gabriel Jesus and Paulo Dybala 

Arsenal reportedly did not expect to finish in the top four this season – which means their dip in form towards the end of the campaign has not significantly affected their long-term budgeting.

The Gunners were in the driving seat to finish in the final Champions League place at the beginning of the month, leading bitter rivals Spurs by four points with three games remaining.

The gap was then cut to just one point when Antonio Conte’s side won a pivotal north London derby at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Spurs convincingly beating the 10-man Gunners 3-0.

Arsenal did not expect to finish in the top four this season, according to reports

The Gunners have suffered a poor run of form and have dropped out of the top four places

Spurs then leapfrogged Arsenal into fourth with a win against Burnley on Sunday, while Mikel Arteta’s men slipped up against Newcastle, losing 2-0.

The battle for the final spot in the top four will be decided on the final day, with Spurs needing just a point to secure it. 

It will be a massive disappointment for Arsenal fans if they are pipped to Champions League football, but the club are claiming that a top-four finish was never expected.

That’s according to ESPN, who claim Arsenal will wait to see what European competition they qualify for this weekend before putting plans together for their summer recruitment drive.

ESPN claims that the Gunners had dampened expectations in regards to where they’ll finish, despite not having European football this season to contend with. 


However, a fifth-place finish may not affect their summer business, with the Gunners weighting up moves for Gabriel Jesus (left) and soon-to-be free agent Paulo Dybala (right)

It also means their end of season slump will not affect their long-term budgeting, the report adds.

Arsenal have been linked with a move for Man City striker Gabriel Jesus, who is set to leave the Etihad following Erling Haaland’s £51million summer arrival.

ESPN are also reporting that Arsenal have made contact with Paulo Dybala’s entourage over a move, with the Argentine leaving Juventus this summer.

Dybala reportedly wants Champions League football next summer, which could rule Arsenal out if they finish in fifth this Sunday. 




Share this article


Source: Read Full Article