Arsenal midfielders Mikel Arteta and Aaron Ramsey are confident of finishing in the top-four of the English Premier League this season, with the former stating, having to give a guard of honor to Manchester United on Sunday would act as an inspiration to "close the gap" on the champions next year.
The Gunners have been in good form recently, but find themselves in a tight battle for Champions League places with Chelsea and Tottenham. Arsene Wenger's men currently sit in fourth on 64 points, one behind third-placed Chelsea and two ahead of Spurs, who are fifth.
However, both Chelsea and Tottenham have a game in hand, which means a top-four place is actually out of Arsenal's hands.
The Blues and Spurs are set to face each other on May 8 at Stamford Bridge, and if Tottenham take all three points in that game and win the rest of their matches as well, with Chelsea doing the same, then Arsenal will find themselves out of the top-four regardless of their results in their remaining three games.
That is a scenario which will be haunting Wenger at the moment, because the manager will know if Arsenal are to bring in quality players in the summer transfer window, then qualifying for the Champions League is a must, otherwise the likes of Stevan Jovetic and David Villa might slip out of their hands.
Ramsey, though, is confident his side will be in the top-four at the end of the season.
"I think we've dealt with it well," he told the club's official website. "We're on a good run at the moment. Chelsea and Tottenham have to play each other so somebody has to drop points there.
"We're concentrating on our own game at the moment. We believe we can win the remaining three fixtures that we have left and get nine points out of them. I'm sure if we do that, we'll be in the Champions League next year."
Arteta is also convinced Arsenal have it in them to seal a Champions League spot, but knows it is likely to go down to the last day of the season.
"We are in the same situation as we were beforehand," Arteta said. "We have tough games to play and it will be very close and will go to the last game.
"Yes it will be about who is the most clinical at the right moments. When it gets to the last games the teams who are the most clinical win the games. We have seen that over the last few weeks. It will be a difficult battle for everyone."
Arsenal gave a guard of honor to United before their Premier League game at the Emirates, and Arteta believes the feeling of having to watch another team being congratulated in their own patch will act as fuel for a better outcome next season.
"I hope we can close the gap," the midfielder added. "Next season we have to improve on this current gap.
"They deserved it (the guard of honor) -- they won the league with four games to go so they deserved the clapping. When someone does the job you have to congratulate them. This is the respectful thing to do.
"You want to be in that situation (where you) walk on the pitch and the other teams show respect because you are the winners. Hopefully, along with our young players, we will have the chance to do it."
