Bukayo Saka believes Arsenal are motivated by having to compete with Tottenham Hotspur for a top-four finish
According to The Mirror, Arsenal star Bukayo Saka has sounded out a warning to North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur as the race for a top-four finish heats up.
Liverpool and Manchester City have already guaranteed their participation in next season’s UEFA Champions League. With Chelsea also likely to follow suit, it appears to be a shoot-off between Arsenal and Spurs for the coveted fourth spot.
Both teams will face each other in the North London Derby in the final weeks of the season, meaning they could potentially control their own destinies by securing all three points on the night. There is every reason to believe that the winner of the game will benefit from more than just bragging rights.
Despite the game being some way away, the mind games have already begun. Arsenal star Saka opened up on the clash claiming that competing against Tottenham for a Champions League spot is enough motivation for the Gunners.
“I don’t think there can be anything that motivates us more. We’re already motivated enough, but we obviously don’t want to lose it to them. So it gives us that extra boost, but we know that we have to win all the games.”
The 20-year-old is right in claiming that there will always be motivation among the North London sides to one-up each other. The same applies to us as we seek to trump Mikel Arteta and throw a spanner in his plans for the Gunners.
Tottenham for their part have done well since the arrival of Antonio Conte and are bang in the conversation for a top-four finish. Neither Arsenal nor Spurs have been consistent and in the end, it could prove to be a win for the side that makes the least errors.
A return to Europe’s top table would accelerate our development under Conte and also help us attract better players. It could be just the catalyst we need to emerge as title contenders.
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Securing Champions League football is the target this season and beating Arsenal to it would only sweeten the deal. We are fine with Saka and his teammates doing their talking off the field. Tottenham will do theirs on it.
The Lilywhites take on Liverpool tonight while the Gunners are in action against Leeds United tomorrow afternoon. A win for Spurs against the Reds would certainly put all the pressure on Arsenal, who would then go into the game against the Whites trailing Spurs by a point, although they would still have a game in hand.
