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LONDON — The only good news for Arsenal after their humiliating 3-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur in the North London derby was that, despite the celebratory scenes among the home supporters at the end of the game, Champions League qualification remains in the hands of Mikel Arteta and his squad.
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It probably didn’t feel like it as Gunners captain Martin Odegaard led his humbled teammates towards their supporters to apologetically thank those who remained until the end, but the mathematics are clear — if Arsenal win their final two games away to Newcastle United on Monday and at home to Everton six days later, the Emirates Stadium will host Champions League football next season for the first time since 2017, regardless of what Spurs do in their home finale against Burnley and concluding match at Norwich City.
“The disappointment shouldn’t take over the great opportunity of the two games we have in front of us,” Arteta said after Thursday’s loss. “We can’t wait to play on Monday, this is how I feel, and that’s all I want to say.”
But if Arsenal are to beat Spurs to the finishing line in the race for fourth, they must overcome a test of nerve and character to achieve their goal and we still don’t know whether this Arsenal side possesses the necessary qualities to do that. And with centre-half Rob Holding set to miss the Newcastle game through suspension after being sent off for two yellow cards — both for fouls on Son Heung-min — and Gabriel almost certain to be sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained in the final stages against Spurs, Arsenal have crucial defensive issues to address.
Arteta can patch up his defence, however. The Arsenal manager can deploy Granit Xhaka at centre-half and hope that Ben White’s hamstring injury is recovered sufficiently for him to start at Newcastle. The former
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Source : espn
