Mikel Arteta can still salvage Arsenal's top four hopes, says Invincibles defender Lauren

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Malik Ouzia @MalikOuzia_20 December 2019

Former Arsenal defender Lauren believes it is not too late for Mikel Arteta to salvage the club’s Champions League aspirations this season.

Arteta’s appointment as Unai Emery’s successor was confirmed on Friday, with the Spaniard signing a three-and-a-half-year deal to take on his first managerial role.

The 37-year-old will not take charge of the team until following this weekend’s trip to face his former side Everton at Goodison Park, by which time the Premier League season will be just one game shy of its midway point.

The Gunners are currently tenth, seven points off fourth-placed Chelsea, and though a Europa League run looks Arsenal’s best chance of returning to Europe’s premier club competition, Lauren says all hope is not lost on the league front yet.

“There are many points still to play for until the end of the season,” he told 888sport. “It’s not easy because the position right now is not the best but with the many, many points left there is a possibility of top four for sure. I believe they can make it. Why not?

“I think Arteta has been an important figure for Arsenal. The captain. He played a lot of good football for us and I wish him all the best. I hope he can get Arsenal back to winning ways and to the position that we all want to club to be in.”

Lauren was part of Arsenal’s last title-winning side, the one which went through an entire league campaign unbeaten in 2003/04.

The current crop are miles below that high mark, and Lauren believes a frustrated fan base must be brought back onside if the club is to ever return to its peak.

“It is normal. The fans always have the right to criticise because they pay every single year. But at the moment we need to be united.

“It is easy when the team is winning everything and winning cups to be a fan. But in the complicated moments people have to come together: the team, the fans, the board. We have to all come together to get back to the position where we all like to see Arsenal.”

Read the full 888sport interview with Lauren here.

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