Arsene Wenger vows to fight on at Arsenal, but gives up on top four
Monday 5 March 2018 11:07, UK
Arsene Wenger insists he can turn things around at Arsenal, but admits his side will now not finish in the top four.
The Arsenal manager is under intense pressure after losing 2-1 at Brighton on Super Sunday - a fourth straight defeat in all competitions and an eighth loss in their last 13 matches.
Some away supporters chanted and held up banners calling for his sacking, but Wenger says he is not ready to call time on his 22-year tenure, despite suffering the worst run of his time in charge of the club.
"It's the first time it happens in my whole career, I must say," he told Sky Sports.
"It's not easy, but I have enough experience and enough desire to turn things around and I must say that, at the moment, when you need to stay in the game we are making a few mistakes at the wrong moments.
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"We have to stick together and focus. We have no other solution."
He also denied he was contemplating resigning, adding: "You focus on your job. These are always the questions you get when you are in the situation we are in.
"You do your job and you do the right thing and the things you think are right for the team and that's it."
Last season was the first time Arsenal have failed to finish in the top four under Wenger, but Sunday's loss leaves them in sixth place, 13 points behind Tottenham in fourth.
And Wenger has conceded that winning the Europa League is their only realistic route into next season's Champions League.
"Yes, I think that [fourth place] had already gone," he added.
"Mathematically, with five teams in front of us, you need two to collapse. With such a number of games to go it's very difficult to think it will happen."