%20rotate(-8.06)%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22336.19%20136.81%20330.16%2094.25%20326.06%2071.19%20326.44%2071.13%20335.22%2093.54%20352.29%20134.52%20373.95%20131.46%20362.7%2052.01%20350.02%2053.8%20356.05%2096.36%20360.15%20119.42%20359.77%20119.48%20350.99%2097.08%20333.91%2056.09%20312.25%2059.15%20323.51%20138.6%20336.19%20136.81%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22402.91%2059.3%20412.36%20126.02%20427.17%20123.92%20417.72%2057.21%20431.59%2055.24%20429.79%2042.51%20387.23%2048.53%20389.04%2061.27%20402.91%2059.3%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22463.51%20118.77%20458.69%2084.71%20474.68%2082.44%20479.51%20116.5%20494.36%20114.4%20483.11%2034.95%20468.26%2037.06%20472.96%2070.25%20456.96%2072.52%20452.26%2039.32%20437.4%2041.43%20448.65%20120.88%20463.51%20118.77%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22540.5%20107.87%20538.77%2095.68%20518.91%2098.49%20515.77%2076.29%20535.63%2073.47%20533.93%2061.5%20514.07%2064.32%20511.11%2043.42%20530.98%2040.61%20529.25%2028.42%20494.53%2033.34%20505.78%20112.78%20540.5%20107.87%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22299.03%20155.17%20301.29%20171.58%20542.78%20138.39%20540.5%20121.97%20299.03%20155.17%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Arsenal Vs Manchester City: Listen To Robert Pires
Robert Pires has hailed the importance of Arsenal’s home tie against Manchester City. Arsene Wenger’s men must not switch off for the remainder of the year.
It has been a painfully poor few months for Arsenal. Since their successive away defeats in December to Everton and Manchester City succumbed them to a nine-point deficit to league leaders Chelsea, the Gunners have failed to haul their way back into the title race and are now suffering through one of the worst periods of form in recent memory.
Related Story: Arsenal: 3 Reasons Granit Xhaka Critics Are Wrong
After the 3-1 loss to West Brom last weekend, Arsene Wenger’s side have won just three games in their last nine games. Those three wins came against Lincoln City, Sutton United – both non-league opposition – and at home to Hull City in the Premier League.
More from Pain in the Arsenal
- 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
- 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
- 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
- Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
- 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
They now sit six points behind the top four places and face an almighty task to haul their way back into the Champions League positions. One of the teams that they are looking to chase down is Manchester City, whom they welcome to the Emirates this coming Sunday. When asked about the upcoming tie, Robert Pires heralded its importance, stating that his former side must vigilant during the remainder of the year:
"“You know it’s a special game when you play Man City. At the beginning of the season, Man City and Arsenal want to fight for the title. Now it is different, because Chelsea are on the top of the table. Arsenal and Manchester City need to finish in the top four to play Champions League next season. I don’t know what will happen in May but Arsenal, now until the end of the season have two objectives. The first is to play Champions League next season and the second is to win the FA Cup.”"
It is a fair point that Pires makes. While fans entered the season with hopes of a Premier League title, that does not mean that qualification for the Champions League is something to be baulked at. It is still a difficult task, especially given the competition at the top of the league.
It is also an important task. It is likely that Arsenal will have to be active in the transfer window this summer and they will be wanting to attract some of the bigger names available. If they are not in Europe’s elite competition, then that will be a much tougher challenge than in the past.
Next: Arsene Wenger's Best Starting XI
It is imperative that the Gunners qualify for next season’s Champions League. For that, they need an impressive end to the year, starting with Sunday’s hosting of Manchester City.