Arsenal will NOT get top four – sixth is best they can hope for in the Premier League, says Gunners legend Ray Parlour

ARSENAL legend Ray Parlour believes the Gunners can aim for sixth place as their ‘best’ hope after a sudden turnaround in form. Mikel Arteta’s side put to bed a dreadful run of results with two vital victories over the Christmas period. A 3-1 win over Chelsea was followed up by a narrow victory at Brighton […]

ARSENAL legend Ray Parlour believes the Gunners can aim for sixth place as their ‘best’ hope after a sudden turnaround in form.

Mikel Arteta’s side put to bed a dreadful run of results with two vital victories over the Christmas period.

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Mikel Arteta’s hopes of a top-four finish have been cast in doubt[/caption]

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Ray Parlour played over 400 games for Arsenal – winning three league titles[/caption]

A 3-1 win over Chelsea was followed up by a narrow victory at Brighton on Tuesday night.

The results shot the Gunners up the table to 13th – and only six points behind Aston Villa in fifth.

But Parlour, 47, believes a Europa League spot is all his old team can hope for this season.

He told talkSPORT: “They won’t get in the top four, they’re too far behind and they’ve given themselves too much of a hill to climb.

“I know the other teams above them are slipping up as well but I just can’t see it.

“There’s four better teams than Arsenal at the moment. For me, sixth place is probably the best they can get.”

Arsenal‘s next three games all come against teams below them in the table and Parlour believes Arteta will take huge confidence into the New Year.

Furthemore, with a huge amount of uncertainty and unpredictability in the Premier League this season, the ex-midfielder believes a run up the table is far from beyond the side.

He added: “The next four games – I’m going to take the FA Cup game out of that – are all winnable.

“West Brom away, Palace at home, Newcastle at home… so I’m sure Arteta will look at it and say, ‘We’ve hit the ground running now and hopefully we can carry this on for the next three games’.

“And suddenly you can be in sixth place, this is how bad the league is!”

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