Arsenal star Sokratis tells team-mates how many wins they need to finish in top four

ARSENAL defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos believes the Gunners need to win just FOUR more games to secure a Champions League qualifying spot.

Posted Tuesday, April 09, 2019 by Express.co.uk

Arsenal lost an important clash with Everton on Sunday - a defeat which further dented their record away from home this season.

Unai Emery's side currently sit fourth in the Premier League on 63 points with Chelsea still to play later tonight.

A win for the Blues would put them on 66 points and into third place ahead of Tottenham as well.

As well as the title race, the battle for top four spots has been tight - with Manchester United in the fray too.

United are on 61 points in sixth place in the table, having previously been ruled out of the race back in December when Jose Mourinho was sacked.

And Sokratis, who hasn't performed to the best of his defensive abilities this season, has set a target for Arsenal to hit to ensure they finish in the top four spots.

"It is very difficult. We are in the Premier League and the other teams are strong," he said.

"I don't have a reason. Other teams are the same, some days good, some days bad. We have to improve and look towards the next game.

Arsenal star Sokratis tells team-mates how many wins they need to finish in top four
Sokratis believes Arsenal need to win four more games to secure a top four place (Image: GETTY )

"But I think we didn't have the same fight (as Everton) so we didn't win a lot of battles and we conceded a goal which was a little bit easy.

"We need to win at least another four games and then we will see if we are in the top four."

Sokratis picked up his 10th yellow card of the season in their loss at Goodison Park, meaning he will miss the next two games.

"Of course (it is frustrating)," he added.

"I like to play every game, to be there to help the team but it is not in my hands.

"I hope that Laurent Koscielny is coming back."

Arsenal are still involved in the Europa League as well, where they come up against Carlo Ancelotti's Napoli in the quarter-finals.

If they fail to get top four, they can fall back on the Europa League - a competition they would need to win in order to qualify for next season's Champions League.