adminARSENE Wenger admitted Arsenal have been left sweating on a top four finish after a heartbreaking setback against Swansea at the Emirates on Tuesday night. Mathieu Flamini scored a last-minute own goal to gift the Swans a 2-2 draw, and now the Gunners have Everton – winner at Newcastle on the night – breathing down their necks for a Champions League place.
Arsenal boss Wenger also revealed that Aaron Ramsey has had another injury setback and fellow midfielder Jack Wilshere is nowhere near returning.
Wenger, six points behind leaders Chelsea and six ahead of the Toffees, said: “We have to look behind us; of course, we also have to look in front of us, but as well behind us.
“Everton won, so we have to focus and prepare well for the next game. It will be open until the end, we can still have surprises.
“The result is very disappointing but the spirit we put in and the effort we put in was great. We have to take it on the chin.
“We have to get some players back, it’s difficult to fight with half the team out. None of them are close to coming back. Koscielny is out for a while, after that Ozil is at least two or three weeks.
“Ramsey is maybe the closest. Maybe two weeks. He’s had a setback. He’s had some scar tissue, then you have to slow down and the tendon is in a sensitive place. You always have to push but not too far.”
Swansea boss Garry Monk was fuming after referee Lee Probert blew for full time early just as he claimed Jonathan de Guzman was clean through and could have scored.
Monk said: “It was a poor decision. We scored and they have to restart the clock, so it would be five minutes minimum.
“Then we are clean through on goal and 99 percent a goalscoring opportunity is going to come, he would have been clean through on goal, and they blow up 30 seconds short.” — Mirror
Online Reporter