By Matt Barlow for the Daily Mail
Published: 22:30 GMT, 11 March 2019 | Updated: 23:54 GMT, 11 March 2019
View
comments
When Arsene Wenger claimed 'the first trophy is to finish in the top four' there was much sniggering and ridicule - but at this time of year there are always converts to his way of thinking.
You might even find some at Chelsea this year, on the rebound from a six-goal humiliation at Manchester City last month and desperately trying to avoid a third season out of four outside the Champions League.
'The game when we lost 6-0, I think we had a click and said we need to do it together, there are three or four months to play and we want to finish in the top four,' said Eden Hazard.
Arsene Wenger once claimed 'the first trophy is to finish in the top four' when at Arsenal
The Belgian salvaged a point for Chelsea with a late equaliser against Wolves on Sunday and, although it felt like a missed opportunity, it served to tighten the race for the two Champions League places behind title challengers Manchester City and Liverpool.
Chelsea are the only one of the four in Premier League action next weekend, and a victory at Everton will see them draw level with Arsenal. Then it will come down to an eight-game sprint.
Tottenham will start with a points advantage and the benefit of having five of their last eight games at home, even
