Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has set his sights on catching Aston Villa in the race for a Champions League place after conceding that fourth place could be the best the Gunners can hope for this season.
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Arsenal ended a four-game run without a league goal with a 3-1 win at West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday night to reduce the gap to Villa to three points but their recent failings in front of goal have put pay to any lingering hopes of a title challenge.
Wenger said: "It's a strange situation. We created as many chances against West Brom as we have done in many games. We are on a long unbeaten run since the beginning of November.
"I still believe that in the few draws we had, if we'd taken those chances, we would still be in the title race.
"But now we want to focus on reducing the gap to Aston Villa and other teams and try to win our games."
But even if Arsenal don't manage to finish in fourth place Villa boss Martin O'Neill still fears the Gunners might steal his club's Champions League place by winning Europe's most prestigious competition.
According to UEFA rules, were Arsenal to win the Champions League this season they would be given automatic entry next year, even if Villa replaced them inside the top four.
"My own view, and I might be speaking against myself, is that if you won the Champions League, I believe you have the right to go and defend it the next year," O'Neill said.
"Arsenal are capable of winning the competition, the way they are going to get their players back in the next week or so. If it was a clear, definitive rule at the start of the season then I'll abide by it."
O'Neill will be doing all he can to chase down third placed Liverpool, who are six points ahead but have played one more Premier league match, despite facing "an exceptionally difficult run in" to the end of the season.
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