Wenger
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger Reuters

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is confident his team will secure a third-place finish in the league this season, to ensure direct qualification to next season's Champions League.

In fact, apart from their shocking defeat to QPR in their last league game, the Gunners have been in formidable form over the last couple of months. They have enjoyed a run of seven straight wins, to move past Harry Redknapp's Tottenham; a task that seemed impossible given Spurs' own run of form some time ago.

Wenger is now sure his team can keep up their form till the end of the season.

"I am convinced we can finish third, like Tottenham are convinced they can do it. That is normal because we are at the same level of points," goal.com quoted Wenger as saying.

"We have been consistent in the last two months and if we maintain that consistency there will not be many twists and turns. You never know how easy a programme is in this Premier League because if you look at the last two months we won at Liverpool and Everton, and then lost at QPR. That was not really predictable, so it is still difficult to predict," he added.

The Gunners play hosts to Manchester City on Sunday. The Citizens are desperately looking for a win to close the gap to title rivals Manchester United. Unfortunately for the blue half of Manchester, they have been unable to find the back of the net in each of their last four visits to the Emirates, meaning Arsenal do have a mental edge. However, Wenger is not putting his hope in records and says he expects goals from both sides.

"Manchester City could be eight points behind United at the start of the game. We will be in a situation where we want to win the game, so it promises to be a very offensive match," he said, according to Goal.com

"In recent seasons, Manchester City came to Arsenal playing for the draw and I feel that this time both teams will go for the win. Manchester City are in a position as well where one point is not good enough and that is why it will be a very exciting game. It is a match where everybody will give absolutely everything," he added.