Arsenal Vs Spurs: 5 things we learned – Mikel Arteta has a hard job

4. Europa League gone?

Entering the Premier League’s restart, Arsenal harboured hopes of challenging for the Champions League places. While they had ground to make up, Mikel Arteta had made great progress with the team and there was hope that they could reel off several victories in succession to close the gap. But after drawing with Leicester City and losing to Spurs, with Liverpool still to play, the opposite is happening.

Following the weekend’s result, Arsenal now sit in ninth position. They are four points behind Sheffield United, who currently sit in seventh position, which is likely to be the final Europa League spot with Manchester City’s UEFA ban. A decision on their appeal will be made on Monday.

It is a bleak picture. Even worse, they face Liverpool in midweek and are likely to drop points there. With Spurs now above them and Wolves, Sheffield United, Manchester United and Chelsea all pulling away, no European football whatsoever next season beckons. That would be very strange indeed.