Arsenal: Top Four No Trophy But Nonetheless Important

Arsene Wenger has long claimed the top four is a trophy. Now Pep Guardiola is supporting him. While Arsenal shouldn’t see it as one, it is still important.

Entering the season, it was rather confusing as to what would constitute a successful one for Arsenal. After missing out on the Premier League title the previous season, it was thought that that should be the goal to aim for.

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That is not too ridiculous a statement. But given the competition at the height of English football, it was never going to be easy. Now, though, the Gunners face a rather tough close to the season to simply finish in the top four, an achievement that Arsene Wenger himself as previously described as a trophy, much to his ridicule at the hands of the footballing community.

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It is a ridiculous statement to make. However, it is also a stance that other managers are beginning to agree with; the latest of which being Pep Guardiola. And Wenger was quick to acknowledge Guardiola’s support and re-assert his initial thought. In his pre-match press conference before welcoming West Ham United to the Emirates, Wenger stated:

"“It’s a good challenge but perfectly possible. For 20 years I’ve done and it looked always like it’s nothing and suddenly it’s important. Suddenly people realise it’s not easy. Of course we have a difficult task ahead of us but suddenly people have realised it’s not easy. Guardiola said to achieve top four is a trophy.”"

Such comments, though, miss the desperation of many of the fans. It has now been 13 years since Arsenal last lifted the Premier League. In the past decade, they’ve won just two meaningful trophies: two successive FA Cups. This year, other than an unlikely FA Cup where they must beat Manchester City to reach a final where they will face either Spurs or Chelsea, they will again enter the summer empty-handed.

That is not to say that fans, as Wenger hints at, are ignorant of the importance of Champions League qualification; the recognition and the stability that it brings. Rather, it means that they are wanting to win more than merely the label of best run club.

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The top four is no trophy and should never be considered one. It is still important but Wenger must come to recognise that fans are desperate for more than mere consistency. They want trophies and are right to do so.