Jack Wilshere can see Arsenal making top-four this season because of Manchester United’s struggles at the moment, but admits it will be close.

Speaking to talkSPORT this week, Jack Wilshere discussed Arsenal’s targets for the season and their chances of making it back into the Champions League. That’s obviously the goal, but many believe it isn’t achievable right now.

“I think their target has to be getting back into Europe,” Wilshere said. “Obviously, the Champions League, they’d want. But I think any form of Europe would be an improvement.

“I can (see Arsenal getting top four), because of United. I don’t think United are bad, but with all the pressure on them and the stuff surrounding Ole…it is going to be close. West Ham are there, Leicester are there, there’s a few teams.”

It always feels silly to be even considering the top four while Arsenal sit in 10th. But the fact is that the middle of the table is so congested right now.

Mathematically speaking, Arsenal could catch fourth-place West Ham this weekend. They won’t, due to the goal-difference gap of nine between them, but it shows how tight things are.

It’s certainly much more realistic that Arsenal could end the weekend in sixth or seventh with just one win. One defeat would leave them continuing to flounder in mid-table, so it’s all constantly on a knife-edge.

Wilshere’s comments are probably toeing the right line. Arsenal’s realistic target is just to make it back into Europe, even if that’s not the Champions League this season. Let’s just not write a top-four finish off until we have to.