ARSENAL legend Nigel Winterburn is backing his former club to challenge for a Champions League spot.
The Gunners endured a horror run of form earlier in the campaign when they went seven league games without a win.
But after beating Chelsea 3-1 at the Emirates on Boxing Day, Mikel Arteta's side have been one of the form teams in the top flight.
Their victory over Southampton on Tuesday meant they have picked up 16 points from a possible 18.
It has catapulted them up the table into ninth but just five points off a top-four spot.
And Winterburn, who spent 13 years at the Gunners, believes they are in a prime position to start thinking about challenging a Champions League spot.
Speaking to FreeSuperTips, he said: “People will disagree with this, but in my opinion, I feel it is important that Mikel Arteta ensures Arsenal are in a European place next season.
"At the start of the season, he probably would have been hoping to challenge for the Champions League.
"But, if you’re not in the Champions League, the club will demand that they're needing to be in the Europa League.
"This has just been such a crazy season. Arsenal were in such poor form for a long period of games, and suddenly, they've won five and drawn once.
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"You look at the table and see every other team slipping up, and suddenly we're only five points away from the Champions League places.
"Yes, we have played a couple more games than some of the teams around us, but there has been a real mentality switch at the club, and rather than looking down, you’re looking up and thinking positively.
"Arsenal have given themselves an uphill battle with the early losses in this campaign, but it might not be beyond them to get a Champions League place, particularly this season.
"Maybe therefore they’re making so many changes in the FA Cup with European ambitions in mind.”
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