After nabbing a point against Manchester United, Arsenal only need to gain one more from their next two games to secure third place.

Arsene Wenger spoke after the match about the advantage of achieving third and why this is our aim first and foremost.

“It takes the pressure off the holidays and in the preparations because you always have that in mind when you prepare. It will be great when we do it, but it’s still to do. We have two home games so let’s focus on the next one and we can secure that on Wednesday against Sunderland,” the boss said.

The Gunners face Sunderland this Wednesday in what could be a crucial game. If we get so much as a draw, third place is ours. Second place is then Manchester City’s to lose.

On whether Wenger is ‘satisfied‘ with third place, he said, “Satisfaction is always a tricky question. If they’d asked me in October then I would have said yes. Overall of course you want to be first but 17 teams would exchange position with you. It is a continuity in our results and it is a platform to do better next season. That’s our aim.”

If Arsenal finish third, we avoid those annoying Champion’s League play-offs at the beginning of next season when our players’ fitness is crucial.

Although we’ve successfully managed to progress to the group stages every season under Le Professeur, having European football secured for the 2015/16 season will take a weight off our team’s shoulders and allow them to fully prepare for the Premier League.