Former Arsenal star Olivier Giroud backing ‘my Gooners’ to finish in top four
Former Arsenal star Olivier Giroud has backed "my Gooners" to return to the Champions League with a top four finish this season.
The Gunners have not qualified for the Champions League for six years, last finishing in the top four when they came second in the Premier League behind Leicester City back in 2016. Mikel Arteta's side came narrowly close to ending their barren run last season before finishing two points behind rivals Tottenham Hotspur in fifth place.
However, they have bounced back from that disappointment so far this season and Giroud is now backing his former side to finish in the top four.
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Speaking to Sky Sports, he explained: "I’ve also been watching my Gooners. I think it’s going to be another interesting year for them."
Asked if he thought Arsenal could clinch a top four finish this season, the French striker added: "Yes, definitely. I hope so."
The Gunners had come desperately close to qualifying for the Champions League once again last season, having been one win away from securing a place in the top four with three matches remaining.
However, losses to Spurs and Newcastle United saw them surrender their top four spot to their north London rivals, who ultimately finished two points above them to grab the final qualification berth.
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Five wins from their opening six league matches this season, though, have seen Arteta's side go top of the Premier League, despite losing their last match away to Manchester United.
Giroud played alongside the Arsenal boss 95 times between 2012 and 2016 during their time as Arsenal team-mates. Speaking to talkSPORT last October, Giroud back Arteta to get Arsenal back into the top four.
"Wow, that’s a good question!" he admitted after being asked how long it would take for the Gunners to return to the top four. "I think Mikel Arteta has got time to come back in the top four.
"But sometimes the problem is that money plays a huge part in success also. When you see Chelsea after winning the Champions League spend over £80million [£97.5m] on Romelu Lukaku to reinforce the forward line and after spending a lot of millions the year before, I think money plays a huge part. That’s the thing with Arsenal. Maybe they don’t put as much in as their opponents."
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