Arsenal: Fourth place, schmourth place – we’re finishing third

A situation has arisen where Arsenal may miss out on the Champions League even if they finish fourth. But that’s no problem, because we’re finishing third.

I love the collective gasps that go around the social spheres when a new doomsday prophecy places Arsenal in a perceived pickle. The latest is a scenario in which, even if the Gunners finish in their goal of fourth place, they won’t make the Champions League.

Obviously, depending on who wins the Champions League, fourth place takes on less of an impact, since winning the Champions league would overrule the finishing place in the Premier League. Europa League is also a factor, but for the sake of the panic, let’s just get this out there – Arsenal won’t need to fret, because they won’t be finishing fourth, they’ll be finishing third.

I know. It’s clinically insane to assume that anything Arsenal related is set in stone and obviously this isn’t either. A lot can change between now and then. But for the sake of this argument, the main thing you need to look at is schedule.

Arsenal’s schedule has no more top six teams. Their toughest matches are away vs Wolves and away vs Watford. Granted, those aren’t easy, and the potential to drop points is there. But the potential to drop points doesn’t outweigh guaranteed dropped points.

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As in, Chelsea and Manchester United still have to play each other at the theater of dreams, and they can’t both take three points.

That’s not the best part though. The best part is that the only team in front of us – Spurs, but a point – still have to travel to the homes of the two title contenders, Liverpool and Manchester City. If ever there were guaranteed dropped points, that is it.

Not to mention that United also still have to travel to Wolves, as well as face Manchester City, while Chelsea still have to travel to Anfield as well.

There are dropped points all over the place in the other three schedules. Meanwhile, the Gunners just have to not soil their britches and third place is a shoo-in. Do I feel nervous calling it a shoo-in given the nature of the club? A little bit. But not enough to regret doing it.

This is a different club. They perform well when backed into a corner, better with each opportunity, and their away form isn’t any worse than the likes of Tottenham. So yeah, forget fourth place. We’ve got third on lock.