Arsenal Have Been Gifted a Second and Final Chance for 3rd Place

It wasn't looking so good yesterday.

Before yesterday's game, Arsenal FC sat a point above both Tottenham and Newcastle in third place. Two matches were left to play. Both Spurs and Newcastle had tricky games, against Aston Villa and Man $ity, respectively, while Arsenal had the seemingly easiest (on paper) match of the three against Norwich at the Emirates. 

Despite their great start, which saw my countryman Yossi Benayoun score with scarcely more than a minute played, Arsenal failed to stay the better side all game and deservedly threw away two vital points.

This was due in part to a lax defence, but also to a lazy midfield. The 3-3 draw was labeled "thrilling," but I doubt that many Arsenal fans where thrilled. Arsenal were now vulnerable to being overtaken by both of the aforementioned challengers for third place, and could very realistically have lost out on a berth in the Champions League next season, were that to have been the case. 

It was not. 

Both of the challengers mucked it up as well, with Spurs drawing with Villa 1-1 after being reduced to 10 men, and the Toon being dispatched 2-0 by a title-craving $ity. 

Arsenal now remain a point above Tottenham, while they are now two above Newcastle. This is an absolute gift. I don't think that we at all deserve it, but when luck is on your side, you have to take it. 

It was probably better this way, as gaping holes in the Arsenal squad were exposed to the naked eye by the scare.

Nevertheless, the Gunners now have a golden opportunity to finish their English Premier League campaign in third place, while also being able to celebrate St. Totteringham's day, a day where they celebrate finishing above Spurs. A win against West Brom next weekend would achieve these goals regardless of any other results.

The Gunners can no longer afford to depend on other results. A win next weekend is a must. Let's hope that they can play to their potential.