- Premier League
Giroud: Arsenal can catch Tottenham
Olivier Giroud claims Arsenal can snare third spot in the Premier League if they continue their resurgence in the final eight games of the season.
Saturday's emphatic 4-1 win against Reading at Emirates Stadium allowed the Gunners to close the gap on faltering Chelsea in the race for a top-four finish, and now the French striker is talking up Arsenal's chances of finishing as London's top club as they set their sights on Tottenham in third.
"There are eight games to go and a lot of points to play for," he told reporters. "I trust in our qualities and think we can make fourth and maybe even third place if we continue to play like we did against Reading.
"We take the games one by one. Spurs have to play against Manchester City and Chelsea so it's hard games for them, but every game is difficult, as we saw when Chelsea lost to Southampton. We have to keep focus, concentrated and strong."
Giroud has urged his team-mates to eradicate the defensive lapses in concentration that have been in evidence throughout this campaign, and he is convinced the final six weeks of the season can reap big rewards for the Gunners.
"We need to be more concentrated when we are defending because we need more clean sheets because we dominate the games," he said. "We want to dictate the games. We are used to finishing the Premier League season well and again this season we will do the same."