Van Persie still has a year left on his current deal, but talks over an extension have so far not been concluded.

The star attacker, who netted 30 English Premier League goals to help fire Arsenal to third place, is now likely to delay any formal decision until after the European Championships, with several top clubs across Europe said to be prepared to offer lucrative terms to tempt him away from the London club.

Lehmann, who won the Premier League title as part of the 'invincibles' Gunners side of 2003/2004, accepts his former team-mate has plenty to think about, but feels Wenger will help make the right choice for all involved.

"Robin is now 28 and this will be his last big contract. He has to consider everything," said Lehmann, who had a brief spell back at his old club in 2011, making his 200th appearance in a Premier League game at Blackpool.

"Arsene Wenger was always a master at buying and selling players at the right time. He still has the quality to evaluate the real value of Robin van Persie.

"He always considers the past value of the player and the future value of the player.

"Of course it would be a good sign for the supporters if Robin stayed, but when you consider his next contract could be four years, he would be 32."

Arsenal secured third place, and with it automatic qualification into next season's Champions League, on the final day to end what had been a testing campaign on a high.

A top four finish had seemed unlikely at the start of the season as Wenger's injury-depleted side struggled for consistency.

Lehmann believes if his old club can hit the ground running, then 2013 could be a vintage year.

"At the end it was a great effort from the whole team," he said, who was in Munich to watch Chelsea beat Bayern and claim the Champions League trophy.

"I remember Arsene Wenger said he was quite optimistic Arsenal would get this place and finish ahead of Spurs, which didn't seem to be the case eight weeks before the end of the season.

"On their day, Arsenal can always perform, but the consistency in the league was missing.

"You never know with them. They are very skilled and talented players.

"Sometimes it just needs to click and all of a sudden they are back there again."

Arsenal has already added German striker Lukas Podolski to its squad for next season, which is set to be trimmed as several fringe players leave.

Midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong is, though, determined to force his way back into the Arsenal first-team, having been sidelined by another serious knee injury after a temporary switch to Wolverhampton last season.

"When I had the first one people were telling me it takes ages to get back playing at the level I was playing at before and when I came back with Arsenal I think I showed everyone I was still the same player," Frimpong said.

"Hopefully I can come back this time and show everyone I am still the same player again."

The split of UEFA television money based on where each qualifying club finished in the Premier League will now be changed to reflect the fact Chelsea is in the group stage as champion.

Normally, as domestic champion Manchester City would get 40% of UEFA's 'market pool' pot of TV money totalling around £12million, second-placed Manchester United 30% (£9m) third-placed Arsenal 20% (£6m) and the fourth-placed club 10% (£3m).

Instead, City and Chelsea will each receive 30% (£9m), United 25% (£7.5m) and Arsenal 15% (£4.5m.)

UEFA said the figures would be confirmed by its executive meeting in July.

Van Persie's 30 English Premier League goals helped propel the Gunners back up into third place and secure Champions League football at the end of a testing campaign at the Emirates Stadium.

The 28-year-old Dutchman has not yet signed a contract extension to a deal which runs out in 12 months' time, with talks between Van Persie, manager Arsene Wenger and chief executive Ivan Gazidis said to have been inconclusive as the player now prepares for Euro 2012.

Former skipper Cesc Fabregas was sold to Barcelona last northern summer, while contract rebel Samir Nasri eventually also left in a big-money move to Manchester City.

Vieira believes Arsenal and Van Persie are at a crossroads.

"Losing Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas last year was a big shock for Arsenal. If they lose Robin Van Persie this year it will be a drama," said Vieira, who was in London help launch ITV Sport's coverage of Euro 2012, where he will be a pundit.

"With Samir and Cesc you can say 'okay those two are gone', but behind you know that there is Jack Wilshere and Van Persie still at the club - but if Robin comes to leave, that means next year it may be Theo Walcott, then the next year is it going to be Wilshere? It is going to be difficult for Arsenal to keep the top players," he added.

"On the other side if they keep Robin they are going to send a positive message to all the clubs and to all the people around and I think it's really important to keep him."

Vieira, who won three Premier League titles and the FA Cup four times while at Arsenal and is now football development executive at Manchester City, continued: "From Arsenal's point of view, I think that is something they should have closed a long time ago, but Arsenal don't need me to tell them that.

"That is the way it is and they will have to deal with it.

"It is a big risk because they lost Samir and Cesc last year. You never know and will have to wait and see what happens."

Gunners boss Wenger has already moved quickly to bolster the squad for next season, bringing in German striker Lukas Podolski from Cologne.

Vieira feels further impressive signings could help sway Van Persie.

"Robin wants to win trophies. Arsenal have to show him he can do it with Arsenal," Vieira said.

"The best way for them to get him to sign a contract is to bring players to the club who can show him that the club are in the same line as him.

"It is really important because we know how Robin loves Arsenal - that is not the question, the question is how Arsene Wenger will convince Robin they can win trophies."

City has been touted as one potential destination for Van Persie should he look to leave, with former team-mates Gael Clichy and Kolo Toure also already at the Etihad Stadium.

Vieira believes City's first championship in almost half a century is only the start for the club backed by the billions of Sheikh Mansour.

"It is a new generation who want to write history at the football club," he said.

"They don't want to stop here, they want more success and I think that is what makes it really exciting for the next few years.

"I am not just talking about the players and the team, I am talking about the football club, the brand.

"The football club is in a different level now and we haven't achieved what we can achieve yet."

The 20-year-old has not featured for the Gunners at all in the 2011-12 season because of a niggling ankle problem which was initially picked up on international duty with England.

Arsenal says Wilshere is recovering "very well" from that injury, but has revealed that during his rehabilitation he has suffered a flare up in his knee that will now be addressed with minor surgery.

A statement on www.arsenal.com read: "England international Jack Wilshere is continuing to recover very well from the injury to his right ankle, which ruled him out of action for the 2011-12 season.

"However, his ongoing rehabilitation has seen a long-standing slight issue with his patella tendon in his left knee flare up.

"As a result, Jack will travel to Sweden for a minor procedure on his left knee in the next few days. This procedure is not expected to significantly affect Jack's comeback ahead of next season.

"On returning to England, Jack will resume his rehabilitation with the Arsenal medical team over the summer."

Wilshere's injury problems meant he had already been ruled out of the England squad for Euro 2012 before new Three Lions boss Roy Hodgson announced his selection for the tournament yesterday.

There has been talk of the player possibly featuring for Great Britain at the Olympics, but this latest news will cast further doubt over that prospect.

The German international will complete his move to the Emirates Stadium from Cologne after Euro 2012.

And Podolski is confident he will adapt quickly to the rigours of the English Premier League.

Arsenal finished third in the league this season - but Podolski is targeting more.

"It won't be easy as the Premier League is quite well balanced, certainly across the top six teams who are all very strong. It will be difficult," Podolski told Arsenal Player.

"But I have joined to win titles and trophies - that is my target. I will do my very best to be successful with Arsenal.

"They play fast in England, score lots of goals and there are tough battles.

"I enjoy this style of football, so from that point of view I think I will adapt fairly quickly. I'm a player who plays in a similar style."

Podolski's former manager Stale Solbakken - the new Wolves boss - believes Arsenal has made a shrewd signing.

"He can play in any team in the world. He was bigger than God in Cologne - you wouldn't believe it unless you were there," Solbakken told the Express And Star.

"He's just had his best ever season with 18 goals from 30 games or something and when we had all those injuries, he carried the team alone for some games.

"He's physical, he's played 100 games for Germany and scored 45 goals, so I think he can cope with everything.

"He can play in either of the forward positions up front.

"If Arsenal play their usual 4-2-3-1, he can play in all of those four forward positions."

Arsenal will hold talks with player of the year Robin van Persie over a new contract and Podolski would relish the opportunity to play alongside the Dutch striker.

"Arsenal are a very disciplined team; they play great football with excellent passing and they are really good to watch on television," he said.

"I'm excited to be part of this team now, playing that way and making the supporters happy.

"Robin van Persie has had such a brilliant season - it has been great to watch.

"Then there is Per Mertesacker who I know well, and I have also been impressed with the performances of Wojciech Szczesny in goal.

"Of course Tomas Rosicky has had a very good season. There are many great players at Arsenal."

Arsenal beat West Brom 3-2 at the Hawthorns to end the English Premier League campaign one point ahead of Tottenhan, which recorded what was in the end a hollow victory over Fulham at White Hart Lane, although fourth place could yet be good enough for a place in next season's Champions League qualifiers.

It completed a remarkable turnaround for Arsenal, which slumped to 17th after losing four of its opening seven league games and at one time trailed Spurs by 10 points.

Van Persie told Arsenal Player: "It was double important to finish third and also above Spurs. We knew what was at stake.

"It is just a fantastic feeling again to be ahead of Spurs. We heard that they won, but it doesn't really matter because we won our game.

"We are definitely in the Champions League again, and that was the main target from the match.

"We just had to qualify and everyone is very pleased, everyone is enjoying this moment."

Van Persie praised the battling efforts of Arsene Wenger's squad during what has been a testing season.

"It is incredible. We had to dig deep and come back on a couple of occasions where we were having a hard time," the Dutchman said.

"At the start of the season, we had a very difficult period, but we bounced back very well from that.

"After that we had the games against AC Milan (in the Champions League) and Sunderland (in the FA Cup) which were quite a hard blow, but we did bounce back."

Van Persie netted 30 Premier League goals to help fire the Gunners back into the top four.

The Netherlands forward spent plenty of time applauding travelling supporters after the final whistle at The Hawthorns, and is set for talks with Arsenal over his future this week.

Should he remain at Arsenal and see out his contract next season, Van Persie could well be paired with Lukas Podolski, who is set to arrive from Cologne.

The German striker believes the switch to England has come just at the right time.

Podolski said: "For me it does not really matter when you take such a step in your career, whether it is now or a few years earlier.

"It is difficult to say when the time is right, but I am now 26, and nearly 27, so this step in my career might just be the right time to do it.

"I had a very good season with Cologne, I played well and as a result I am now going to Euro 2012 in the summer with lots of confidence.

"After that, I will be joining up with my new team-mates at Arsenal and it is my goal just to do my best and be successful there."

Podolski is ready to slot into the Arsenal side.

"In Cologne, I played as a centre-forward and also as a playmaker. In the national team I play wide on the left, I honestly don't mind where I play, as long as it is in a forward position," he said.

"But it is always the coach who decides where you play and I will do my best wherever I play."

A mistake from Fulop, only in the side because of an injury to Ben Foster, allowed Yossi Benayoun to hand the Gunners an early lead but the Baggies responded with goals from Shane Long and Graham Dorrans.

Andre Santos' strike shortly before halftime pulled Arsene Wenger's side level and Laurent Koscielny capitalised on another Fulop error to earn the most slender of victories in a pulsating final-day encounter.

The win ensured Arsenal held on to third, a place and a point above north London rival Tottenham Hotspur, which now faces a tense wait to see if Chelsea win the weekend's Champions League final against Bayern Munich - which would rob Spurs of a spot in Europe's elite club competition.

It was a disappointing end to a superb 16-month spell with the Baggies for boss Roy Hodgson, who expressed his gratitude to fans in his program notes as he now turns his attention to leading England into Euro 2012.

The Gunners head to West Bromwich Albion on Monday (AEST) knowing destiny is once again in their own hands, with victory guaranteeing automatic qualification for the UEFA Champions League.

Given the disastrous start to the domestic campaign which saw four defeats from seven matches - including a humiliating 8-2 thrashing at Manchester United - to even be in this position is an achievement in itself.

Despite both Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal being able to point to opportunities missed to have already sewn up third place ahead of what is set to be a nail-biting final day, Wenger feels the way his squad responded through such times is testament to their character.

"It will be a great achievement if we manage to do it. I believe it would be reward for a group which has exceptional strength," Wenger told Arsenal Player.

"They have come through some difficult times, always recovered and always battled. Therefore I will be extremely delighted when we do it."

The French boss added: "There is even more uncertainty because fourth place is not this time necessarily in the Champions League.

"Let's make sure we finish third and win our game - that is the only answer we can give.

"To do that of course you need a full, committed performance from everybody.

"On that front I am quite sure we will get that from our players and then we will have a very good chance to do it."

The Gunners head to West Bromwich Albion on Sunday (Monday 00:00 AEST) needing victory to secure third place, and with it safe passage into the group stages of Europe's elite club competition once again.

The future of captain Van Persie, who has plundered 30 league goals, remains subject for speculation, with the Dutchman set to talk with the club ahead of departure to Euro 2012.

Asked if guaranteeing Champions League football would make it easier to convince Van Persie to sign an extension to his current deal which still has a year to run, Wenger said: "On my side I am inclined to think 'yes', but you should ask him. I don't know whether it will have an influence on him.

"Anyway, we don't focus on just that. Robin is not at the end of his contract."

Wenger feels the Gunners would not necessarily be forced to sell Van Persie, as they did with Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona and Samir Nasri to Manchester City last northern summer.

"People speak like our position is not important. Our position is very important," said Wenger.

"Our position with Cesc was to let him go because he wanted to go."

After playing catch-up at the end of the August transfer window, Wenger has already done some early transfer business with the £10 million ($16 million) signing of German striker Lukas Podolski.

Wenger believes it will be a "quiet summer", and believes getting the likes of England midfielder Jack Wilshere - who has not kicked a ball in anger this season - fit again will be just as important as any new signings.

"Another way to strengthen for us is to get Wilshere and [Abou] Diaby, who didn't play at all the whole season," said Wenger.

"You look at the number of players - we have 34 players when they all come back. That means you have to pay nine not to play."

Arsenal would have already been secure in third place had it beaten Norwich last weekend, instead of being pegged back in a thrilling 3-3 draw.

Yet by the same token, rival Tottenham Hotspur was at one stage itself in the driving seat for automatic qualification, only to suffer from a lack of consistency itself.

"Both teams have not been capable to do it. We have been in position as well where we were not capable to do it. It can happen. The championship is difficult," said Wenger.

"For example, Norwich played 3-3 against us. We could have won the game, we could have lost the game. They went to Tottenham and won at a period where Tottenham could secure the [third] place. It happened to both Tottenham and us."

Just as much as each club could yet be playing in the Champions League again next season, they could also be dropped down into the Europa League should Chelsea win the European Cup on May 19.

Wenger, though, rejected suggestions the Europa League was a "useless competition".

He said: "You play where you have to and it's better to play there than not at all.

"When you play Thursday night and Sunday it's exactly the same as Wednesday night and Saturday.

"But if you ask me if we prefer the Europa League or Champions League then you are completely right, we want to be in the Champions League, we don't want to be in the Europa League."

Wenger, though, will not be looking for any excuses at The Hawthorns.

"In football you can always find reasons to affect things. On our side, you can say that talking about transfers has an effect," he said.

"You are professionals in our job, we are professionals in our job and to be professional is to perform when you are expected. It's as simple as that."

The Gunners announced long-serving number two Rice will retire at the end of the season after 44 years with the club.

Bould, the former Arsenal defender, will be promoted from his current role as youth team coach.

Wenger said: "I always want to give a chance to people who know how we coach.

"Steve is a very good coach and brings a continuation of our philosophy."

Rice, 63, has been associated with the Gunners for 44 years having first joined as a youth team player in 1964 before then going on to make 528 senior appearances over 14 seasons.

After a four-year spell with Watford in the early 1980s, Rice then returned to Arsenal as youth team coach before joining Arsene Wenger's backroom staff following the Frenchman's arrival in 1996.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is determined to do his transfer business quickly this northern summer, finalising as many deals as possible ahead of Euro 2012.

Terms have already been agreed with Cologne on a £10 million ($16 million) move for German international striker Podolski, but reports in France suggesting a club-record £18 million ($28.8 million) deal with Rennes for M'Vila was as good as done are understood to have been premature.

Podolski, 26, will offer some much-needed back-up to Gunners captain Robin van Persie, whose own future remains the subject of much speculation.

German centre-back Mertesacker - currently recovering from an ankle injury which prematurely ended his season - believes Podolski can hit the ground running in August.

"He has good physical power and that is what is needed in the Premier League," Mertesacker told Arsenal Player. "He is very quick too. It is a challenge for him, but he can cope with it.

"Lukas is very confident. When he feels he has to be there for the team and when we needed a goal he was always there.

"He was always one of the best players on the pitch and nothing could take him down. He is so confident and that is what I like. He is a fantastic striker. Everywhere he has played he has scored a lot of goals.

"He is very good on his first touch when he has the ball in front of him, that is a big quality and very good for us."

Mertesacker encouraged Podolski to join Arsenal and the 27-year-old feels his international team-mate will fit right in.

"I spoke to him several times and gave good references to this club. He will enjoy his time here," Mertesacker added.

"Some things are different in Germany to this club, especially here at the training ground. You have no press, no supporters around here and you can concentrate on training.

"It is very calm here and that is a good thing, especially for him because he is very famous in Germany and has played very well in the last big tournaments for them.

"He is very popular and that can sometimes be dangerous because everybody is putting pressure on him, but here you can concentrate on yourself and on your team.

"This is a great place for him to develop his performances as a footballer and a person, like I have in the last year."

Mertesacker endured a testing first few months adjusting to the English game, but the 6ft 6in centre-half had started to produce some consistent displays before suffering ligament damage at Sunderland on February 11.

"Sometimes I felt like it was very hard, especially when I first came here," he said. "It was tough to settle down [and I was] very quickly into the first squad.

"There was sometimes a lack of performance, but I think you have to go through that to improve yourself. I am very comfortable here now and very proud to be with this club.

"In general you are playing the best players in the world. You always have to perform at a high level. It is at a constant level and that is what makes the Premier League so good and so sharp."

Wenger is expected to oversee arrivals and departures over the northern summer, with the departures possibly including Andrey Arshavin - who spent the end of the season on loan at former club Zenit St Petersburg as it won the Russian league - as well as veteran goalkeeper Manuel Almunia, midfielder Denilson and misfit strikers Nicklas Bendtner, Marouane Chamakh and Carlos Vela.

Much of Arsenal's transfer policy will depend on whether it can finally secure automatic qualification for the group stages of the UEFA Champions League.

It heads to West Bromwich Albion on Sunday for new England boss Roy Hodgson's final game in charge at The Hawthorns knowing victory would guarantee it third.

Winger Theo Walcott could be back in contention after a hamstring injury.

The Turin giant is looking to reinforce its attacking line with veteran forward Alessandro Del Piero set to leave the club next month and on-loan striker Marco Borriello expected to return to Roma in July.

"Van Persie is a great player," Juventus general director Giuseppe Marotta told www.calciomercato.com.

"He is a complete player and would be useful to any team. But he still has one year left in his contract with Arsenal.

"We will try to put the icing on the cake this summer but the important thing is that the mix is good."

Van Persie leads the Barclays Premier League goalscoring chart with 30 so far this season.

Juve has been closely monitoring Liverpool striker Luis Suarez as well as Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Higuain.

"Van Persie, Suarez or Higuain? They are three important players," Marotta said.

"In fantasy football we could have the three of them playing in the same line-up but in reality, it is different.

"If one of them arrives (here) is not because he will be the less talented as other things have to be taken into account, such as the financial aspect.

"Moreover, if (Real Madrid coach Jose) Mourinho does not want to sell Higuain it will be impossible for us to get him and we also have to take that into consideration."

Benayoun has revealed he wants to end his loan move from Chelsea by helping the Gunners finish third in the Barclays Premier League, with automatic UEFA Champions League qualification set to provide a boost for their northern summer recruitment drive.

Reports today suggested they were on the brink of completing what would be a club record £17.7 million ($22.8 million) signing of Rennes star M'Vila, who has long been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal appears to be succeeding in conducting its summer transfer business early this year, having been accused of panic signings at the end of the August window after selling Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri.

Benayoun was one of the new arrivals but has proven a useful addition to the squad in recent months as the Gunners have fought back from a horrendous start to the season to move to the brink of qualifying for the Champions League once more.

The final game of Benayoun's loan spell comes at West Bromwich Albion on Monday (AEST), where Arsenal needs to win to be certain of finishing third.

"Since I came to Arsenal, I have always been committed to one club until the last game of the season," he told the Gunners' official website www.arsenal.com.

"The only thing I want is for Arsenal to finish in third place - I don't care about anybody else.

"When I finish I will have to decide about my future.

"I am supposed to go back to Chelsea first and then we will see what the future holds."

Benayoun was pleased with how his loan spell had worked out, adding: "I finish here in a good way.

"In the last few months, I have been more involved.

"Of course, you want to play and you want to enjoy it and I think I have played a big part in the last few games.

"You always remember the end and I am happy with my performances in the last few months."

The Gunners' inability to see off Norwich at Emirates Stadium in what was a thrilling 3-3 draw did not ultimately prove too costly after Newcastle United was beaten by Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur failed to win at Aston Villa.

Another weekend of unpredictable results means Arsenal retains a slender one-point advantage in third place heading into the final fixture at West Bromwich Albion next weekend.

Wenger, though, accepts Arsenal cannot have another off day and just hope Van Persie will again dig it out of trouble, the captain having chalked up his 30th Barclays Premier League goal of what has been an outstanding individual campaign with a second-half brace against the Canaries.

"When you look at the chances we created, it is absolutely unbelievable that we scored only three goals," said the Arsenal boss.

"Again we are punished because Robin had to score and many times we do not get enough goals from elsewhere.

"We had so many obvious chances that you would want somebody else to score one. That does not happen enough.

"Of course we need to address that because I feel there was enough room to score six or seven goals."

Wenger admitted his side had, not for the first time in recent weeks, failed to be tuned in to the job at hand.

He said: "Is it down to too much preparation, not being switched on or subconsciously thinking we will manage to do it?

"We have character because to come from where we did [earlier in the season], but maybe subconsciously we thought, 'okay, we will do it against Norwich'."

Wenger continued: "We have had room to do even better.

"When you consider the last three home games we have taken two points, when you are so close to where we were, we have a lot of regrets.

"Let us hope we will not pay the heavy price for that."

Robin van Persie had already scored twice for the Gunners when he appeared poised to tap in a match winner from close range, but was shoved to the ground by Canaries defender Kyle Naughton.

The dropped points mean both Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United could leapfrog the Gunners if they win their games on Monday (AEST), and the day was further marred by the news that fullback Bacary Sagna had suffered a broken leg which rules the Frenchman out of Euro 2012.

Wenger said: "Here the whole season we have got zero penalties. It is absolutely amazing, because you see other clubs who have got 10.

"I don't know (why the penalty was not given), we have to accept the decision of the referee."

Wenger admitted Arsenal had not been "switched on", although their afternoon started so well with a goal from Yossi Benayoun after just 65 seconds.

The Canaries rallied and were level after Wojciech Szczesny spilled Wes Hoolahan's shot before Grant Holt's deflected effort gave the visitor a deserved half-time lead.

Arsenal did come on strong after the break and a brace from Van Persie in the space of eight minutes put the home side back in charge, only for Norwich substitute Steve Morison to make it 3-3.

"It is more than frustrating because we were very poor in the first half, not switched on," Wenger added.

"The quality of our first half was absolutely not at the level we wanted to play in a decisive game like that.

"In the second half we did very well and created at least 10 chances, but again we did not take our chances.

"On top of that we gave them a third goal in a situation that was absolutely unbelievable. In the end we got punished for our mistakes.

"We have to analyse the reasons why we were not sharp enough in the first half.

"There is no obvious reason because we prepared normally as we always do, and maybe subconsciously we would win it.

"Norwich played well, you have to give them credit, they did well."

The fullback pulled up during the first half of the 3-3 Barclays Premier League clash against Norwich at the Emirates Stadium.

Sagna had suffered a similar injury against Tottenham Hotspur last October.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said: "It is broken fibula, the same leg.

"He was kicked on it, it has not happened alone.

"When he was kicked, he has broken the leg.

"The guy closed him down and walked on him. I dont know if it was deliberate or not."

Not even skipper Robin van Persie equalling Thierry Henry's Arsenal record of 30 goals in a Premier League season with a late double could lift the Gunners past the Canaries.

The Gunners' afternoon started well with a superb goal from Yossi Benayoun after just 65 seconds.

However, Norwich, already guaranteed top-flight status for next season, rallied and was level after Wojciech Szczesny spilled Wes Hoolahan's shot before Grant Holt's deflected effort gave the visiting side a deserved half-time lead.

Arsenal rallied after the break as a brace from Robin van Persie in the space of eight minutes put the home side back in charge, only for Canaries substitute Steve Morison to grab a deserved point.

There was still time for referee Anthony Taylor to miss a clear shove by Kyle Naughton in the back of Van Persie as he looked to tap in a winner at the far post while Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy made a couple of important late saves.

Arsenal has a two-point lead in third place and now must hope Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United fail to make up ground as the race for UCL qualification is set to go to the wire.

A win looked a very safe bet indeed when Benayoun marked his 32nd birthday with the opening goal after a minute's play. He picked the ball up on the left side of the Norwich penalty area, cut inside and curled a sublime effort up over Ruddy into the far corner.

That should have settled any nerves, but instead, the Canaries were galvanised.

Bradley Johnson's chipped free-kick was headed goalwards by diminutive Canada frontman Simeon Jackson, and the equaliser came in the 12th minute.

Full-back Naughton, on loan from Tottenham, raced forward down the left and played the ball through to Hoolahan on the penalty spot. The Republic of Ireland midfielder did not really connect properly with his shot but it was enough to squirm past Szczesny and across the line.

Now it was Arsenal whose resolve was tested, as the atmosphere grew decidedly edgy.

Norwich continued to ask questions of the home defence and went ahead in the 27th minute.

A quick break saw Hoolahan release Holt at the edge of the Arsenal area. As former Norwich loanee Kieran Gibbs backed off, the 31-year-old's shot caught the defender's boot, looped over Szczesny and in.

Just like against Wigan, the Gunners were shell-shocked and their afternoon took another turn for the worse in the 33rd minute when full-back Bacary Sagna pulled up with a calf injury and had to be replaced by Francis Coquelin.

Arsenal's tempers were frayed, and Benayoun was fortunate not to be punished when he kicked out at Simon Lappin after a tussle with the Norwich defender.

The visiting team remained composed and felt it should have been awarded a penalty when Coquelin up-ended Hoolahan following another quick break down the right channel.

Referee Taylor and his assistants were in the thick of the action again a few minutes later when Russell Martin had his shirt pulled by Laurent Koscielny at a corner, but again the officials gave nothing - much to the frustration of the Norwich bench.

It could have been 3-1 in first-half stoppage time but for a perfectly-timed sliding challenge by Koscielny to block Holt's close-range effort.

There was more purpose about Arsenal in the second half, Van Persie rolling the ball across the face of goal following a sustained period of pressure.

Norwich, however, also looked to be positive and Jackson broke clear of Thomas Vermaelen and skipped into the Arsenal area, but his shot was straight at Szczesny when he probably should have squared for Holt to tap in.

As the hour mark passed, Van Persie failed to beat Ruddy with a tame strike from 12 yards before Aaron Ramsey dragged his shot wide. The Wales midfielder was replaced in the 63rd minute by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as Wenger looked to inject some much-needed impetus into his side.

It was captain Van Persie who made the breakthrough though, as he volleyed home Alex Song's excellent angled ball through the penalty area.

Arsenal maintained its momentum as Norwich fought hard to disrupt it as much as possible, with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger exchanging a few heated words with Canaries counterpart Paul Lambert across the technical area.

There was elation, though, when the ball ricocheted into the path of Van Persie, who reacted quickest to lash his shot under Ruddy.

However, the Canaries were not to be denied a famous result as with Arsenal pressing forwards, they were caught out by a ball over the top and Morison ran on to slot past Szczesny on 85 minutes.

There was still time for Ruddy to deny Van Persie with a fine close-range block before a clear push by Naughton in the back of the Arsenal captain as he looked to tap in at the far post went unpunished - and the Gunners' top four destiny was again taken out of their hands.

The Netherlands striker, who collected the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year award, is set to sit down with Arsenal at the end of the season for discussions over a contract extension, with another year left on his current deal.

Speculation over Van Persie's future is set to rumble on - with Manchester City, Barcelona and AC Milan all said to be ready to offer the 28-year-old a big money move.

Wenger, though, feels the Gunners have already shown they mean business in 2012/2013 following the £11 million signing of Germany international Podolski from Cologne, the transfer confirmed earlier this week.

"Great players like to be with great players, so it helps always to get them in," the Gunners boss said.

"First, we want Robin to stay because he is convinced that we can play for the championship. I believe we have that."

Wenger continued: "You want the players to be happy, and the club to be happy.

"I believe that we will have an honest exchange at the end of the season and at the moment we have to put the priorities where they are, which is to qualify the club for the next Champions League and more than being obsessed about any individual situation."

Arsenal has been linked with the likes of Yann M'Vila at Rennes and Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen, whom Wenger claimed was "an interesting player" and that the Gunners "look at all the players all over Europe every week".

The Emirates Stadium club's hand in potential negotiations would be further strengthened by the guarantee of UEFA Champions League football again next season.

Victory over Norwich on Saturday (21:45 AET) in the Gunners' final home would be a step in the right direction after defeat by Wigan and successive draws against Chelsea and Stoke.

"I do not want to be in the Champions League because of Robin. I want to be in the Champions League because that is the target of the club," Wenger said.

"After, the players are part of the club and the club wants to be with the best. So tomorrow, for me, what is at stake is where the club will be at the end of the season, more than any individual player."

Arsenal finishes what has been a testing campaign at West Bromwich Albion, which is set to be a charged atmosphere in Roy Hodgson's final game before taking charge of England.

Wenger, though, will not expect his players to become lost in the occasion.

He said: "I believe that it will be an emotional departure, maybe, but I think what is important for us is to turn up with a good performance and win the football games.

"It will be difficult, certainly, but not more, not less."

The Gunners broke with tradition in 2011 when they headed to Asia instead of Wenger's long-preferred option of a secluded training camp in Austria and low-key warm-up games before completing preparations for the new campaign at the Emirates Cup.

This summer during July Arsenal will visit Malaysia, China - where it will play Manchester City at the Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing - and Hong Kong, then travel off again to Nigeria in early August.

While Wenger admits it is not perhaps the best preparation for his squad, many of whom will have been at Euro 2012, the Arsenal manager can understand the need for the change in philosophy.

Speaking at a press conference flanked by Arsenal's chief commercial officer Tom Fox and sponsor Emirates' divisional senior vice president corporate communications Boutros Boutros, Wenger said: "We have had to compromise on the sporting side, because we had a rational, methodical approach to our pre-season.

"We have sacrificed some of that to go on tour.

"But we are in a race with the other clubs as well. I realised when I was at the World Cup in South Africa how popular a club like Arsenal is in Africa, especially in Nigeria. It is unbelievable.

"I was even frightened at some stage by how popular Arsenal is. In Kenya as well, it is absolutely unbelievable."

The Arsenal manager added: "A tour has advantages and disadvantages, let's be honest.

"The advantage, of course, is to get in touch with your fan base in Asia - when you travel out there you realise how big the Premier League is and how big your club is over there.

"We are looking forward to doing it again, but unfortunately in the European Championship years or the World Cup years, on the purely sports side you suffer a bit more because your players have just come back and have to travel again, so the preparation time will be short for them.

"But on purely fanbase it is very exciting."

Fox, meanwhile, insisted the club's commercial team was acutely aware of the impact of its business strategy on the team.

"We do not take these decisions lightly at all," the American said.

"We understand from a training perspective it is not ideal, and the pressure we feel that when we do something as disruptive as taking Arsene's preparation on the road, we need to make sure we get the most out of that.

"We feel that responsibility acutely within this club.

"We are not just flying people around because we think there may be opportunities.

"We have tried to be very purposeful about it because we completely understand it is a very disruptive thing to do.

"So we are going to do everything we can to make sure we get everything we can from these visits and games."

The 28-year-old Netherlands international topped the poll of journalists with a landslide victory ahead of Manchester United duo Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes, with Fulham's Clint Dempsey fourth.

Van Persie's 35 goals in all competitions have helped propel Arsenal into the top four of the English Premier League, leaving it on the brink of clinching an automatic place in next season's Champions League - a European campaign Van Persie looks set to be part of as he prepares for northern summer talks over a new contract.

"That is still the plan. We haven't set a date but I will have a meeting with the boss like we did before now. We will be having a meeting about my future, and lots of other things.

"Arsenal is an unbelievable club. The player I am today is because of Arsenal. When I actually signed the deal (to join Arsenal) it was a dream come true.

"If you ask the likes of Robert Pires how he feels, what he feels like he will say 'I feel like a Gunner' - and whatever happens with me I will always be a Gunner."

Van Persie - who was also named the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year - picked up the prestigious FWA accolade, which has been running since 1948, and admitted it was an unexpected honour.

"It makes me very proud to be here. I have seen the list [of previous winners], and for me, I never really thought I would be sitting here winning this trophy," Van Persie said.

"But even this season I was not really thinking about winning a trophy for myself. I was just playing because I love it and for Arsenal to finish as high as possible in the league.

"When I found out I had actually won it, I was a bit surprised, and was like, 'What, me? Really?'

"It makes me really proud to be part of that history."

Van Persie said being honoured by both his peers and journalists alike was a humbling experience.

The Dutchman added: "The writers know everything about the season because they have seen every single game, analysed ever goal, every move. They know everything about you.

"They are doing interviews with me and other players, they get a clear picture of who is the best player, which is why it means so much that these guys have voted for me."

FWA chairman Steve Bates, chief football writer at The People, paid tribute to the Gunners skipper.

He said: "Robin van Persie has had a quite magnificent season, excelling with consistent flashes of individual brilliance which have lit up the Barclays Premier League as well as bolstering Arsenal's season.

"It is hard to think of another player in the Premier League this season who has had such a galvanising effect on the team than Van Persie.

"The quality of Van Persie's attacking play, both in terms of goals and movement, have often been breathtaking to watch and the landslide manner of his victory to win our prestigious award is an accurate reflection of his season."

The Football Association's current rules state that a player can not be disciplined retrospectively if any of the match officials at that game saw the incident in question.

That policy caused outrage last month when Mario Balotelli's studs-up challenge on Alex Song went unpunished after at least one of the four officials at the game saw the incident, but referee Martin Atkinson failed to act.

Criticism of that decision was particularly strong as it came on the same day that the FA upheld the suspension of Queens Park Rangers midfielder Shaun Derry for the slightest of touches that brought down Ashley Young at Old Trafford.

Wenger says the current system lacks common sense and wants to see an overhaul as soon as possible.

"Basically we are in the position at the moment where if somebody takes a player's leg off, if the referee has seen it and misjudged it, the player gets away with it. For me that is not acceptable," Wenger told Arsenal Magazine.

"If you love football you want justice to prevail. How can it be right that Shaun Derry is suspended and Mario Balotelli isn't?

"Even if each case might make sense individually when they are explained, when you put the whole picture together you have to say it's not common sense. So there is something missing from the cohesion of the justice system.

"I am convinced that a committee with a supreme authority - an ethics committee - could rule on some cases, and make sure justice is done. They should have the power after games, in exceptional circumstances, to make a decision above the referee. Then the system would be perfect."

Wenger has had his fair share of run-ins with the authorities since he took over at Arsenal, not least in Europe where he has been banned three times within the space of a year.

The standard of officiating has come under the spotlight of late after several high-profile errors, and while he respects the difficult nature of the job, Wenger thinks officials need to be over-ruled more at times.

He added: "There are a lot of things that work very, very well but my main concern is that there is friction between the authority of the referee and justice in football.

"That is a grey area at the moment that has to be explored. You have to respect the referee, respect the difficulty of his job, but also put justice in the game above the referee's authority."

Meanwhile, new signing Lukas Podolski has been speaking at length for the first time about his move to Arsenal.

The Gunners announced on Monday that Podolski would move to the north London club at the end of the season from his current team Cologne.

Arsenal, who currently sits third in the Premier League, may have struggled for consistency this term, but Podolski is convinced his new team can win its first league title since 2004 next season.

"There is no question that Arsenal FC is a big name in football. The aim must be to win the title next year," Podolski told a press conference in Germany.

"Arsenal have a very good coach, a good environment, they play good football, have a great stadium and have great fans.

"Therefore, this club suits me well."

Podolski's arrival at the club nest season could signal the permanent departure of Andrey Arshavin.

Arshavin is on loan at Zenit St Petersburg after falling out of favour with the Gunners, but he is in no rush to decide his future.

"I haven't yet though about (my future). Everything will be decided after the European Championship," Arshavin told Russian newspaper Sport Express.

"Of course, the result and quality of play there could affect my destiny."

Arshavin joined Zenit St Petersburg on a five-month loan deal in February and has made a big impact at his hometown club, helping it to win its second consecutive Russian title at the weekend.

The 30-year-old forward is unsure whether he will return to the Gunners next season, and will instead delay discussions on his future.

"I haven't yet thought about (my future). Everything will be decided after the European Championship," Arshavin told Russian newspaper Sport Express.

"Of course, the result and quality of play there could affect my destiny."

Arshavin enjoyed two relatively successful years at Arsenal but he fell down the pecking order at the Emirates Stadium this term and was even booed while entering the pitch for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain during January's 2-1 home defeat to Manchester United.

The Russian, who cost £15million when he signed for the club in February 2009, made only eight league starts for the Gunners this season and is sure that the temporary move to his homeland was worthwhile.

"Without a doubt it was the right decision," he added.

"There are many reasons why. First of all, I am now playing, and that is paramount for any player as training is no substitute for matches. Second, I have returned to my hometown. Third, Zenit have done everything to make me feel comfortable and my thoughts are now only focused on football."

The deal is finally out in the open as the Gunners and Cologne announced Podolski was moving to the Emirates Stadium after Euro 2012.

As well as being a shrewd signing on its own merits, Podolski's arrival could have arguably the more important knock-on effect of convincing Robin van Persie to commit his future to Arsenal this northern summer.

Manager Wenger, who admitted that the Gunners had been too reliant on Van Persie this season, said: "We are delighted to secure the deal for Lukas Podolski and see him as an important part of our future.

"He is a top-class player, a very good finisher and a proven performer at club and international level.

"He is a very strong player and will provide us with good attacking options.

"We are happy to have made this signing early and we're looking forward to watching Lukas contribute at the European Championships over the (northern) summer, a level where he has already made 95 caps at the age of 26 - a phenomenal record and just shows his quality as a player."

Despite being feted as a world-class talent thanks both to his exploits on the international stage and for his hometown club, Podolski will have a point to prove at Arsenal after flopping in a three-year spell at Bayern Munich.

But he had no qualms about testing himself at another of Europe's giants, saying: "I'm so happy to be joining Arsenal Football Club and to play in the Premier League.

"Arsenal is one of the top clubs in Europe, with a huge history. There are many top-quality players at Arsenal and the style of football which the team plays is fantastic.

"I'm proud to become an Arsenal player and am looking forward to playing my first match at Emirates Stadium and doing my best for all the Arsenal fans."

Arsenal and Cologne waited to announce the deal to avoid impacting on the latter's Bundesliga relegation battle.

Podolski, who started his career at Cologne before rejoining it from Bayern in 2009, told their official website, fc-koeln.de: "The move to Arsenal provides a great opportunity for me to gain experience in international competitions at a top European club.

"I have made this decision not against Cologne but for this great opportunity and the good of my own individual development.

"This was not an easy decision for me at all, as Cologne, our fans and the city are something special for me. I will always carry Cologne in my heart.

"We need to pool our strengths now and have to be fully focused on our survival in the Bundesliga."

The 26-year-old, who has 95 caps for the national team, will move to the Emirates for an undisclosed fee after both clubs and the player reached agreement over the deal.

Podolski told www.fc-koeln.de: "The move to Arsenal provides a great opportunity for me to gain experience in international competitions at a top European club."

And Gunners boss Wenger claimed there was little he could do to change that for the club's final two games of its Barclays Premier League campaign.

Urging the Footballer of the Year and PFA Player of the Year to fire Arsenal to third place, Wenger said: "He has to push us over the line.

"There are two games to go. We have been a bit over-reliant on him, I concede that.

"But it is difficult to change that before the end of the season."

Van Persie bagged his 28th league goal of the season in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Stoke City, which left Arsenal four points clear of fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur having played a game more.

Newcastle United - thrashed at Wigan Athletic at the weekend - and Chelsea are also breathing down its necks ahead of its midweek clash and Wenger said: "We'll see how important this point is at the end of the season.

"I knew that Newcastle were losing, so in the last 20 minutes I thought it was important not to lose the game.

"We had a good game defensively. We had some great fluency in the first half. In the second half, we did not create enough anymore.

"I don't know if it was because Stoke defended better or we were tired.

"It was a valuable point because we showed battling qualities we have not always shown here."

Arsenal was today assessing the extent of the thigh problem picked up by injury-plagued midfielder Abou Diaby at the Britannia Stadium amid fears he could miss its final two games.

The Dutch striker's 35 goals this season are sure to make him one of the most coveted players in this summer's transfer window, and he has already been linked with the likes of Manchester City, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus.

Van Persie only has a year left on his contract with the Gunners and has delayed talks over a new deal until the end of the campaign.

Having endured protracted speculation over the futures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri over the last couple of years, and then seen them leave the club, Arsenal will be determined to avoid the same scenario with Van Persie.

Midfielder Benayoun said: "I think everyone knows it's important (that he stays).

"Each club wants to keep their best player and of course Robin is our best player and he's proved it this season.

"I'm sure he will stay for a long time."

Benayoun joined Liverpool at the same time as Fernando Torres in the summer of 2007, and he believes the two strikers have a lot in common.

"I've been lucky to play with some of the biggest strikers and Robin at the moment is one of the best in the world," said Benayoun.

"When Fernando was on fire at Liverpool and scoring a lot of goals, for me they are on the same level.

"With Fernando you knew every game for Liverpool he could score, especially with a player like Steven (Gerrard) behind him.

"With Robin we know we must give him the right balls and he will score, and that's what he's done all season."

Van Persie made it 35 goals for the season on Sunday (AEST) with the equaliser in Arsenal's 1-1 draw at Stoke, which came in the same week he was named the PFA and Football Writers' Association Player of the Year.

Benayoun added: "I think he was above any other player in the Premier League. He's scored lots of goals, created a lot of goals, he has been the main man this season."

Benayoun was back in the side after missing the goalless draw with his parent club Chelsea last weekend under the terms of his loan agreement.

The 31-year-old has only two games left of his season-long deal, and he insisted he does not yet know where his future lies.

"I have two more games to give 100 per cent for Arsenal and we'll see what will happen," said the Israeli.

"When I had the chance to come to Arsenal, one of the main things was the football, moving the ball quickly, and that's what I enjoy most."

Benayoun has been in and out of the team this season, scoring four goals in 26 appearances, but he looked a threat down the left and it was his good work that created the opening for Arsenal's goal.

The point, coupled with Newcastle United's thrashing at Wigan Athletic, gave the Gunners a bit of breathing space in third place in the Barclays Premier League table, keeping them on track for a UEFA Champions League spot.

Benayoun said: "I think it's not a bad result because we know how difficult it can be to play against Stoke.

"Of course we wanted to win but the point is a good point, especially after Newcastle lost. Now if we win the last two games we will be in third place, so it's important."

The two clubs have had a stormy relationship since the Potters' promotion to the Barclays Premier League four years ago, with the main flashpoint coming two years ago when Ryan Shawcross was sent off for a tackle that broke Ramsey's leg.

The Stoke defender has been a target for Arsenal supporters ever since, and the home fans at the Britannia Stadium responded in kind although it was Wenger who took the majority of the stick.

The Gunners boss said: "I've had enough experience to cope with that. It doesn't bother me too much. I don't listen to what people chant.

"I think one day football will have to tackle that. It's easy to sit in the stand and insult people. It's the easiest sport in the world.

"I focus on what I love in my job, which is football and the way my players behave on the pitch. I'm not responsible for the way people behave in the stands. If you want to stop that, it's easy to stop. You can isolate every single face.

"I think sometimes when I go out on the pitch at the end of the game, and people are angry or hateful, I would like a little picture to send home for them to show their son or daughter, and then come back next week and see if they will do it again, see if they are proud of you."

Of the boos directed at Ramsey, Wenger added: "I don't think you can be especially proud to boo Aaron Ramsey, I don't see what he has done wrong. It's an old story where the fans of Stoke stand behind their player but it shouldn't go as far as booing Ramsey."

Stoke manager Tony Pulis accepted abuse from the stands can go too far, although he stopped short of criticising his own supporters or agreeing that the two clubs need to tackle the enmity between them.

"It is very difficult for us all," he said. "I go to grounds and get abused. It's not just Arsene. If you speak to Sir Alex (Ferguson), he gets absolutely slaughtered at some grounds. Is it acceptable? The powers that be have got to decide that."

Regarding the treatment of Ramsey, Pulis added: "I was more concerned about the Arsenal supporters booing Shawcross so I didn't hear the ones on Ramsey."

In a spicy atmosphere, the game began at a high tempo and Tomas Rosicky and Robin Van Persie were both denied by Asmir Begovic before Peter Crouch headed in the opener from a Matthew Etherington cross nine minutes in.

Arsenal hit back six minutes later as Rosicky found Van Persie, and this time the PFA player of the Year made no mistake to register his 35th goal of the season.

Chances were few and far between after that, although Arsenal felt they should have had a second-half penalty when Yossi Benayoun went down under pressure from Glenn Whelan, while right at the death Bacary Sagna had to clear virtually off the line after Crouch beat Wojciech Szczesny to a Rory Delap long throw.

The draw, coupled with Newcastle's 4-0 thrashing at Wigan, put four points between the teams in the battle for third place and a certain UEFA Champions League spot, and Wenger was largely happy with the result.

He said: "It was a game where we have shown great character and great battling qualities. It was a game of two different approaches. One very direct and one who tries to play on the ground, and both teams are good at what they do.

"We had good chances, especially in the first half. I felt in the second half our fluency dropped a bit but we still had some chances, especially the penalty that wasn't given.

"Overall we deserved at least a point and I can only give credit to my players. We have not always coped with Stoke's play, but today I felt we did."

Guardiola announced he would not be renewing his contract at the Catalonian club and will take a break from football with his assistant Tito Vilanova swiftly drafted in as his replacement.

Wenger's Arsenal was twice knocked out of the UEFA Champions League by Barcelona in recent seasons, and the Frenchman believes the 41-year-old could have again guided the team back to former glories, having seen Real Madrid overtake it in the race for the Spanish title.

Speaking before Guardiola's official announcement, the Gunners boss said: "It comes as a surprise to me because first of all when you make a decision after a big disappointment like he has had in the past week, it may not be the right moment to make this decision.

"The philosophy of Barcelona has to be bigger than winning or losing a championship.

"Guardiola is one of the representatives of this philosophy and made this philosophy triumph so I would have loved him, even going through a disappointing year, to stay and come back and insist with his philosophy. That would be interesting."

The manner of the defeat to Real Madrid last weekend - a loss which effectively saw it relinquish its Primera Division title to Jose Mourinho's men - and the midweek exit to Chelsea in the Champions League semi-finals appear to have prompted Guardiola to walk away after four trophy-laden years.

Wenger can empathise with the weight of expectation.

He said: "I can understand there are not many managers who work throughout a career without a breather.

"Maybe he has not shown the stress. Maybe it's taken more than he has shown. You never know from the outside how deeply a man suffers from the inside.

"I have heard he has come out and wants to have a break to reflect on the situation, which you can understand after a certain time.

"I decided the other way to never come out of a job, because it becomes second nature to cope with it. It becomes your life, but some people need to move out at some stage."

The 31-year-old has enjoyed a relative injury free-spell and in March agreed a contract extension, which coincided with his best form of the year.

Since signing from Borussia Dortmund in May 2006, a string of frustrating fitness issues hampered Rosicky's progress, and the former Sparta Prague man missed the entire 2008/2009 season because of a hamstring tendon problem.

However, he hopes to build on a promising end to the current campaign, which has seen Arsenal find some consistency to force itself back into the top four of the Barclays Premier League.

"I still believe I have plenty in me - we will see how it all goes, but right now I feel great and want to continue this way," Rosicky said in the official Arsenal magazine.

"You know, my normal age is 31, but in football years I am 29 - I lost two years because of injury.

"I can say that I feel very well and I hope I have many years to come.

"You see players like Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes - what they are producing at their age for Manchester United is great and that's a real inspiration for me.

"Everything is possible, but of course it will depend on my health."

Rosicky, who shrugged off a virus to play against Chelsea last weekend, has been utilised in his favoured attacking midfield position by manager Arsene Wenger in the past few months.

It is a role in which the Czech international thrives.

"I am in the advanced position of the three, looking to get in between the opposition's midfield and defence," he said.

"When we have the ball I am starting quite close to Robin [van Persie] up front, and after that I can come a bit deeper and stretch the pitch out.

"I can't say for sure whether this has made the whole difference, but I would certainly agree that what the boss is asking [of me] at the moment suits me nicely.

"The whole season has gone quite well for me, but I was injured twice in the first few months so couldn't keep up sustained form.

"I am enjoying the rhythm the manager has given me now."

Rosicky added: "Obviously the whole team is playing very good football at the moment and I think I fit quite well into the team now.

"We enjoy playing together and that is a big part of it."

Despite putting itself back in the driving seat to qualify for the Champions League again next season, Arsenal still has some work ahead to make sure of third place - which has suddenly taken on extra importance after Chelsea, which is currently sixth, reached the final of this season's competition.

Arsenal - beaten at home by Wigan before it was held to a frustrating goalless draw against Chelsea - heads to Stoke on Saturday with something of a shortage in midfield, given Rosicky's illness and the loss of both Mikel Arteta and Theo Walcott to injury after it was confirmed Jack Wilshere would not play at all this season because of a long-standing ankle problem.

While the 20-year-old had been ruled out of featuring for England at the European Championships, there were suggestions the midfielder would instead then be part of the Great Britain Olympic squad.

However, Arsenal remains steadfast the player needs the proper rehabilitation time ahead of the 2012/2013 campaign.

Speaking about the issue recently, Wenger - who could yet also see midfielder Aaron Ramsey called up by Stuart Pearce - said: "The Olympics would be the worst idea for Jack.

"When a guy has not played for year, he needs a good and slow preparation to start the season.

"Once he is fit he can think about the national team.

"It is not that I don't want him to go to the Olympics. It is just that he has other priorities than that."

UEFA, meanwhile, today confirmed Arsenal has not appealed against Wenger's touchline European ban.

Europe's governing body handed Wenger a three-game suspension and £33,000 fine for post-match comments made to and about Slovenian referee Damir Skomina following Arsenal's Champions League exit to AC Milan, which came despite a 3-0 win at Emirates Stadium in the round of 16 clash in March.

It is the third time in the space of a year Wenger had been given a touchline ban by UEFA.

The Gunners still have some work to do over the final three games of the Premier League to make sure of third place ahead of Newcastle United, starting at Stoke City this weekend.

Nevertheless, just to be in this position is an achievement in itself given the appalling start to the campaign, which saw Arsene Wenger's men slump as low as 17th after four defeats in the opening seven matches.

The Gunners put together a run of seven straight wins to drag themselves back up into the top four, and Szczesny accepts it will take similar performances on a weekly basis if Arsenal is to match the achievements of Chelsea by reaching the UEFA Champions League final again and also mount a sustained assault on the domestic title.

"I think the quality is there. We all know it - we have the quality to fight for trophies in Europe and this country," the Poland goalkeeper said.

"It is just consistency that has been a bit of a problem for us this year.

"But the team is getting more experienced and hopefully we have got the experience to win trophies next year."

Szczesny added: "If you look over the last couple of months we are probably one of the best teams in the Premier League.

"We have got three games to go and we need to win all three and we will finish third."

Arsenal has been hit by injuries in the past couple of games, with Theo Walcott joining Mikel Arteta in the treatment room after hobbling out of last weekend's goalless draw against Chelsea because of a hamstring problem.

Initially Wenger had ruled the England winger out of the remainder of the season, but it is understood scans have revealed the problem is not major and Walcott could even be in contention for the final Premier League game on 13 May.

As well as aiming to finalise a new deal for captain Robin van Persie this northern summer, Wenger is expected to be busy in the transfer market.

A £10 million ($15.62 million) move for German striker Lukas Podolski from Cologne is expected to be rubber-stamped soon after the end of the season.

Arsenal also has to decide on the futures of several fringe players, like goalkeeper Manuel Almunia, Denilson as well as strikers Nicklas Bendtner and Carlos Vela, while Yossi Benayoun's loan from Chelsea could be made permanent.

Midfielder Denilson has been on loan at former club Sao Paulo, but reports in Brazil suggest he will return to Emirates Stadium, while a decision must also be made about Mexican Vela, who has been in decent form at Real Sociedad.

Bendtner, however, has indicated he does not want to play for Arsenal again when his temporary switch to Sunderland comes to an end.

The 24-year-old Denmark international is currently on a season-long loan deal at the Stadium of Light from parent club Arsenal and has scored seven goals so far.

Manager Martin O'Neill is yet to make a decision on a player who was signed by predecessor Steve Bruce as he plots the way forward, with the striking department likely to be on of his priorities this northern summer.

However, Bendtner told www.Sporten.tv2.dk: "Never say never about Sunderland, but it is not certain that I will be here if the opportunity arises.

"About Arsenal, I obviously have to have a chat with the club about it [his future], but it's not there that the first priority is going to be. I think I have been fairly clear about it."

However, Bendtner revealed he has enjoyed his time on Wearside despite the nasty facial injury which left him playing in a protective mask.

He said: "It's been great to come up here and get games.

"It's different than what I was used to at Arsenal, but it's been a good period for me."

The Netherlands striker, 28, topped the poll of journalists with a landslide victory ahead of Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney in second place and his Old Trafford team-mate Paul Scholes third, with Fulham's Clint Dempsey fourth.

Van Persie's 34 goals in all competitions has helped propel the Gunners into the top four of the Premier League, leaving them on the brink of UEFA Champions League qualification for next season.

Van Persie - last week named the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year - will receive the prestigious FWA accolade, which has been running since 1948, at a gala dinner at the Lancaster London Hotel on May 3.

FWA chairman Steve Bates, chief football writer at The People, said: "Robin was the overwhelming choice of our members this season and deservedly so after a magnificent campaign for Arsenal.

"The quality of his goals, attacking movement and consistency in a turbulent season for The Gunners has been eye-catching.

"The considerable size of his majority in the votes cast by our members reflected the general view that he has been the season's most outstanding individual performer."

The 28-year-old Netherlands international has scored 27 Premier League goals this season for the Gunners - his most fruitful campaign for the club - and was humbled to be recognised by his peers.

"If other people are saying it, it is special, but it is even more special if your opponents are saying it," he told Press Association Sport.

"It is very special because you are playing against them week in week out and every single player does everything to win and in the end if they make up their minds that I'm the best player it is a big honour."

Van Persie may have picked up the top individual honour but he was quick to point out it would not have been possible without his Arsenal team-mates.

"Without them I could not have achieved it," he said.

"For example Theo Walcott, he has given me more than 12 assists and I do really appreciate that."

Van Persie was utilised mainly as a second striker, and occasionally out on the wing, in the early stages of his Gunners career after being signed by manager Arsene Wenger from Feyenoord in 2004.

But he has flourished since switching to the centre-forward role - despite initially not having been convinced he could make the transition.

He said: "Now I am (confident). To be fair, when I first went there I wasn't really as confident and I wasn't really sure I could do it. It took a bit of time but after a couple of months a slowly realised I could do a good job there."

The Young Player of the Year award went to Tottenham Hotspur and England fullback Kyle Walker.

The 21-year-old Spurs defender beat the likes of Sergio Aguero and Danny Welbeck to win the trophy and it came as quite a surprise to the former Sheffield United man.

"I was a bit surprised because defenders don't normally get these awards and get the limelight as much as the centre-forwards," he said.

"If you look at the people I was in with then it is a great honour to get the award and hopefully there is more to come.

"It is always an honour to be selected by the people you play against and, like I say, hopefully I can get a few more of these and some medals with Tottenham along the way."

Both players were also selected in the Premier League's Team of the Year. Van Persie was the only Arsenal player present whereas Walker was one of three Spurs men, with Scott Parker and Gareth Bale also included.

The PFA Merit award was presented to Preston North End defender Graham Alexander in recognition of his services to the game, dating back to his debut as a Scunthorpe player in 1991.

The Scotland international went on to play for Luton, Preston and Burnley before returning to Deepdale in 2011 and was humbled with the award of the trophy.

"To get recognition for what you have done in your career at any stage is great," he said.

"I'm coming towards the end of my playing career and I'm privileged to be recognised by the people who I have played against for the last 20-odd years."

However the Arsenal manager believes Walcott will recover in time for England's assault on EURO 2012.

Wenger said: "It looks like a serious hamstring.

"First we assessed the hamstring, he wanted to go on and stay on the pitch, and I think he should have gone off straight away because the second time it was a real hamstring [injury].

"I think now for him it will be tough to come back before the end of the season. It is usually 21 days [minimum].

"He should be OK to play for England, but I don't think he will be ready to play for us."

Walcott's injury was an untimely blow for Arsenal, which failed to further cement its place in the top four of the Premier League.

Wenger was quick to lay the blame for the scoreless result at the feet of Chelsea, branding its play negative.

"Before the game, I thought it would be an open one - we had to win, they had to win," he said.

"They decided to lock up the game and catch us on the break only, with two wide players who are quick, and Fernando Torres.

"I felt we had a very solid defensive performance. Going forward, we didn't find our quick passing game and the regret we have today is that we played offensively with a handbrake and not as clean technically as we can do."

Wenger, whose side suffered a shock home defeat to Wigan Athletic earlier in the week, added: "That is why we didn't open them up enough. It was a bit similar to what we saw against Wigan and that's a regret I have today."

Wenger reserved praise for captain Robin van Persie, who missed several chances either side of half-time.

"He gave absolutely everything again today," Wenger said.

"He was unlucky in the first half, he had a free-kick he deflected and it was a clear-cut chance.

"Then, when he was through, I think he rushed his decision-making a bit, when he took it with his right foot, because he had Abou Diaby coming in completely on his own.

"And he was caught offside one time and I am not sure he was."

Wenger was sure, however, that Van Persie should have been awarded a penalty when Gary Cahill pushed him to the ground in the box in the 80th minute.

He said: "It was a very unfair result but it is a result.

"I think (we should have had a penalty), I think also we had chances. At the end of the game, we had the chances and they had zero."

Opposite number Roberto Di Matteo disagreed.

"Looking at the statistics, I think we had as many attempts and corners as they had," Chelsea's interim manager said.

"I think they had a couple of chances from set plays, they didn't really create any clear-cut chances.

"I think we looked dangerous on the break many times, but we needed more quality at the end of the match to get the points."

With three key games in a week, it was hardly surprising Chelsea made eight changes to the team which beat Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League in midweek, but Di Matteo denied his squad was fatigued.

"It wasn't a question of resting, it was a question of selecting a team that could win the game against Arsenal," he said.

"We've had so many games, it was a crazy schedule - it wasn't going to be possible to play the same players in every game."

Di Matteo also refused to be drawn on whether Didier Drogba would be fit for next week's Champions League semi-final, second leg at the Nou Camp after missing this game with a knee injury.

He said: "At this moment of time, I'm not sure, we will have to assess all players on Sunday.

"He's got an injury on his knee, so it's whether the progression on the injury is going to be quick enough."

Roberto Di Matteo made sweeping changes to the side which had battled to a 1-0 home win over Barcelona in the first leg of its UEFA Champions League semi-final in midweek.

However, the gameplan remained very much the same, with the Gunners - who twice hit the woodwork in the first half - denied time and space as they failed to bounce back from the disappointment of a shock defeat by Wigan Athletic.

Chelsea can head to Spain knowing more of the same will be good enough to progress against the odds, while Arsenal, which lost winger Theo Walcott to a potentially season-ending hamstring injury, still has some work to do itself if it is to secure third place ahead of Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United.

Chelsea, with recalled Fernando Torres leading the line, felt it had an early penalty shout when Salomon Kalou got ahead of Bacary Sagna down the left.

However, despite the players coming together before the Chelsea forward, making his 250th appearance, went down, referee Mike Dean waved play on.

In the 13th minute, Michael Essien bundled over Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to concede a free-kick 20 yards out on the left of centre.

Walcott whipped the ball over to the far post, where Robin van Persie arrived late to stab the ball against the outside of the woodwork.

Arsenal - whose 5-3 win at Stamford Bridge in October was the beginning of the end for former Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas - continued to press Chelsea back, but lacked a telling pass in the final third.

The visitor, meanwhile, looked dangerous on the swift counter-attack, with Florent Malouda making headway down the left and his cross into the six-yard box was hacked clear by Laurent Koscielny.

The tempo of the match dropped significantly, with Arsenal players showing a distinct lack of movement on and off the ball as the visitor easily turned over possession.

Just like Barcelona had in midweek, Arsenal hit the woodwork again five minutes before the break.

This time, Van Persie was the architect, his floated free-kick into the Chelsea box picking out Koscielny, whose header looped over Petr Cech, but came back off the crossbar.

Arsenal maintained the pressure, with Cech standing up well at the near post to deflect Van Persie's shot clear after another ball swept through the Chelsea box from the right by Alex Song.

Di Matteo switched Torres out to the flank for the second half, with Daniel Sturridge down the middle.

Arsenal remained too casual with its choice of final pass when in promising positions, while the visitor always looked dangerous on the break.

Thomas Vermaelen made a fine saving tackle to deny Sturridge on the edge of the area.

As the hour mark approached, Walcott pulled up with what appeared to be a hamstring problem.

The England winger, though, was able to continue, only to then break down as he tried to get away down the right and was replaced by Gervinho.

Arsenal upped the tempo again, but Van Persie cracked a 25-yard free-kick high into the Clock End.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger made another change on 63 minutes, as the hard-working Tomas Rosicky was replaced by Abou Diaby, back from a series of injury problems.

Chelsea then replaced midfielder Oriol Romeu with John Obi Mikel.

Arsenal's final substitution came with 21 minutes left as Brazil wing-back Andre Santos replaced Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Juan Mata - who was on Wenger's radar before his move to Stamford Bridge from Valencia - came on for Kalou as the match showed little signs of sparking into life as the last 15 minutes approached before former Gunner Ashley Cole replaced Ryan Bertrand to the expected warm reception from the home fans.

Van Persie went down in a heap under pressure from Gary Cahill, but the referee waved away the half-hearted penalty appeals.

The Dutchman then blazed wide after John Terry slipped to let him into the right side of the Chelsea box.

Arsenal had enough of the ball in the closing stages, but as for the majority of the match, failed to make the most of it.

For Chelsea, this was overall another hard-working effort, with plenty more of the same needed in the Nou Camp.

Arsenal captain Van Persie was pictured at the London hotel of Barca on Tuesday night, fuelling speculation he could be set to join them this off-season.

But the 28-year-old, who is refusing to make a decision about his long-term future until the end of the season, wrote in the Gunners' official matchday programme: "The explanation is really very simple. My very good friend Ibrahim Afellay plays for Barcelona.

"After a bad long-term injury, he was finally back with the team - and during his absence I had been in contact with him a lot, but I hadn't seen him.

"This was an opportunity for me to go and visit a close friend, show him my support and catch up.

"Unfortunately, this had to be at the hotel, because he was not permitted to leave it.

"I was wearing my Arsenal tracksuit and we sat down by the reception to have a chat and some food - everyone could see us and there was nothing to hide.

"I can't imagine anyone conducting transfer negotiations in these circumstances!"

The Netherlands star, who has just over a year left on his Arsenal contract, added: "The visit to the hotel was a social one and had nothing to do with the future of my career.

"I do have a social life next to football, even if my wife tells me that it sometimes doesn't seem that way!

"Nothing has changed in the sense that my intention remains to discuss my future in the summer."

Van Persie also hit back at Gary Caldwell's claim that he refused to shake the Wigan captain's hand after Arsenal's shock 2-1 defeat on Monday night.

He said: "I was quite surprised by his reaction, and the fact that it made such news in the media.

"If you look properly at what happened, I offered him my left hand but he refused it and acted like the innocent party - so all the reaction has been a little over the top.

"There were no bad intentions on my side. In football, you can win and lose - that is part of the game, and of course I will always be disappointed with a defeat, but not to the point that I refuse to shake my opponent's hand. Not everything is always as it looks."

The Gunners - who appear set to be without midfielder Mikel Arteta because of an ankle injury for their final four matches - host Chelsea on Saturday night (AEST) aiming to bounce back from the disappointment of the shock 2-1 home defeat by Wigan Athletic.

Arsenal is currently five points ahead of fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United, and some seven in front of the Blues, albeit having now played a match more.

It has been a remarkable turnaround by Wenger's squad to fight its way back into UEFA Champions League contention after an appalling start that saw it slump as low as 17th place.

Wenger feels if for nothing else, the group deserves credit for the way it found consistency from such a testing spell, as a run of nine wins from 11, including seven successive victories, saw the Gunners overhaul Spurs, Chelsea and Newcastle.

"After losing four games in the first seven, to be where we are today is a remarkable achievement," the Arsenal boss said.

"Now our target must be to better what we did last season.

"A strong finish will be important for that reason, and also to give us the belief to enter 2012-2013 with confidence."

Wenger admitted he feared Arteta's injury was "quite a serious one".

It is understood while scans revealed no break, ligament damage means the Spanish midfielder will need several weeks of recovery.

Yossi Benayoun, on loan from Chelsea, is ineligible to play against his parent club this weekend, so Aaron Ramsey or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could start in midfield.

Arsenal, which appear set to be without midfielder Mikel Arteta for their final four matches because of an ankle injury, hosts Chelsea on Saturday aiming to bounce back from the disappointment from its shock 2-1 home defeat by Wigan.

Arsenal is currently five points ahead of fourth-placed Tottenham and Newcastle, and some seven in front of the Blues, albeit having now played a match more.

While it has been a remarkable turnaround by Arsene Wenger to guide his men back into Champions League contention following an appalling start, which saw it slump down as low as 17th place, qualification for next season's elite European competition is far from guaranteed.

Indeed, should Chelsea go on to win the Champions League in Munich next month but fail to finish in at least fourth place, then they would take the spot in next season's group stages and consign their rival to the Europa League.

Ivory Coast forward Gervinho, however, insists Arsenal is fully focused on delivering the required performances over the closing four games to make that possibility irrelevant.

"We want to be among the top three. The whole group is very motivated and we are already happy to be where we are," Gervinho told Arsenal Player.

"We can still do better with the four matches coming. We are fighting only for third place, we don't think about fourth spot.

"Everybody is determined to fight until the end, from the players and the manager to the fans, to maintain third place.

"If we manage to keep it then everybody should be proud because we fought very hard for it."

Gervinho, a northern summer signing from French side Lille, added: "It is true that I am disappointed to see another year without a trophy.

"I am used to getting trophies, but we tried and we went through a lot this year.

"We are happy to have reached that level. I hope next year we will do even better."

A run of nine wins from 11, including seven successive victories, saw Arsenal overhaul Tottenham, Chelsea and Newcastle.

Gervinho believes the squad was spurred on by those who claimed Wenger's men were now a spent force.

"We learnt a lot from the negative start we had. It has made us stronger. We learnt a lot during that struggle," he said.

"In life you will always be criticised.

"We had to prove to the people who didn't believe in us that we were able to come back by playing well on the pitch.

"The result is here today. Our progression during the season speaks for itself on the pitch."

Wenger also feels if, for nothing else, the group deserves credit for the way it found consistency from such a testing spell.

"After losing four games in the first seven, to be where we are today is a remarkable achievement," he said.

"Now our target must be to better what we did last season.

"A strong finish will be important for that reason, and also to give us the belief to enter 2012/2013 with confidence."

Wenger admitted earlier this week he feared Arteta's injury was "quite a serious one".

It is understood while scans revealed no break, ligament damage means the Spanish midfielder will need several weeks of recovery.

Yossi Benayoun, on loan from Chelsea, is ineligible to play against his parent club this weekend, so Aaron Ramsey or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could start in midfield.

The clash at the Emirates seems sure to be crucial in the Blues' battle to secure qualification for next season's Champions League.

However, after backing up Sunday's FA Cup semi-final triumph over Tottenham by recording an outstanding semi-final first-leg win against Barcelona, Di Matteo is aware some of his players may be getting tired.

With a trip to the Nou Camp looming on Tuesday, the Italian realises the need to rotate his squad.

And that should mean the return of £50 million ($77 million) record signing Fernando Torres, who remained on the bench throughout this morning's (AEDT) 1-0 win, and probably Michael Essien, Florent Malouda, Saloman Kalou and Jose Bosingwa.

"We will have to assess the players but there is a good chance some fresh ones will come in," said Di Matteo.

"Also, they deserve to be in the team as well.

"I left a few players out against Barcelona because I have to make decisions.

"We will see about Saturday but I have it in mind to give one or two a start."

Chelsea is currently sixth in the Premier League but victory would, briefly, lift it into fourth spot, above Tottenham and Newcastle, and leave the Blues just four points adrift of third-placed Arsenal with a game in hand.

The 34-year-old found the net with his – and the Blues' – only shot on target in the semi-final first leg at Stamford Bridge to give Roberto Di Matteo's men hope of reaching next month's final.

Otherwise, like the rest of his team-mates, the veteran striker was limited almost exclusively to chasing around a Barca side that had 72 per cent possession.

Drogba looks certain to leave Chelsea when his contract expires this summer after the club refused to offer him more than a one-year extension.

Some have doubted whether the Ivorian's body is still able to handle playing two matches in quick succession, but the man who also scored a stunning opener in Sunday's FA Cup semi-final thrashing of Tottenham said: "For those who said that I was too old, they saw that I could run maybe one, two or three more years!"

Chelsea's so-called old guard led by example again last night, with Drogba, John Terry, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole magnificent in carrying out caretaker manager Di Matteo's inspirational game plan.

The Italian looks certain to deploy the same tactics in Tuesday's second leg at the Nou Camp, where the Blues will need to be just as clinical.

"We have to go there now and try to score another one," said Drogba, who knew that would mean Barca having to score three, something it could easily have done last night had it not wasted the five gilt-edged chances that fell its way.

Drogba added: "That's football and I think we were a bit lucky.

"You have to work for luck to come and to happen.

"We worked a lot. We worked hard."

Despite claiming he had plenty more fuel in the tank, Drogba looks certain to be rested for Saturday's crucial Barclays Premier League clash at Arsenal.

That could have a major say in whether Chelsea qualify for next season's Champions League by finishing in the top four or are forced to try to win the competition to do so.

Drogba said: "It's a difficult week, difficult 10 days for us after Spurs, this game, and then Arsenal, and then again Barcelona.

"It's going to be an important, very decisive week for us, and I think we're up for it."

Szczesny has established himself as Arsene Wenger's first-choice goalkeeper in his first full season at the Emirates Stadium.

But the 22-year-old, who will make his 70th Gunners appearance in this weekend's Premier League game against Chelsea, is taking nothing for granted.

He told Arsenal Player: "I'm 22 years old and I don't think I'm an established number one. I still need to prove myself at this club.

"I do feel confident, but if we had this conversation in a few years' time and I've played 500 games for this club, I'll feel like I'm an established number one.

"I've played 65 games for the club, I think, and there's still a long way for me to go.

"So I don't feel like a proper number one - I still wear number 13 on my back!"

Szczesny claimed he had the 'the best number two' in the country breathing down his neck in Lukasz Fabianski.

"I know I have to be at my very best in every game because he is waiting to take my spot," the Poland star said.

"It helps keep you sharp and to be at your very best."

He added: "I've never been short of confidence but when you actually start playing regularly and you feel like you're number one for the club, it gives you massive confidence knowing that the manager believes in you and trusts whatever you do.

"You know you can afford to make the odd mistake and you won't be dropped.

"It gives me a lot of confidence and that kind of shows in my performances.

"I believe I have improved, I've matured a lot in goal, I keep my focus for 90 minutes - which wasn't always the case in my early days.

"So the improvement is there but I'm hoping to improve with every single game and every single season at this club."

Despite his personal success this season, Szczesny admitted he could not be completely content.

"I would've been more satisfied if we had won any trophies," he said.

"My goal at the beginning of the season was to win trophies for this club and I haven't won any, so that's always a big disappointment.

"But it's my first full season in professional football, I'm enjoying it, and I think I've been quite consistent considering my age.

"Obviously, I could've done better on a few occasions but it's been okay."

Arsenal captain Van Persie has developed into one of the most feared centre-forwards in the world, and looks set to breach the 40-goal barrier for club and country this season.

The Netherlands star, 28, only began spearheading the Gunners attack almost three years ago after manager Arsene Wenger sold Emmanuel Adebayor to Manchester City.

Before then, Van Persie played almost exclusively as a second striker, the kind of role fellow Dutchman Dennis Bergkamp made his own at the club.

"That was the idea from day one," Van Persie told Arsenal Player.

"I never really thought that I would end up as a main striker.

"I actually never played there before - I did it a couple of times at youth level but it was nothing really special.

"We only tried it when Adebayor went.

"The boss didn't buy someone else because he was convinced I could do it.

"I wasn't even convinced about it. I wasn't so sure, because I didn't really play there so much.

"Then, in pre-season, we had a game against Inter Milan. I scored a good goal, played well and he told me after the game, 'You see? It will work'.

"That was the first step to being a main striker.

"Sometimes, you just question yourself, if you're good enough at it. Those answers came.

"I have been for a while now convinced that I actually can play as a main striker. I just didn't know, and now I believe.

"Let's see where it ends. Let's see how far I can push myself, see where my maximum lies."

Van Persie's exploits have made him the heavy favourite to be crowned PFA Player of the Year on Sunday.

They have also made him one of the most coveted strikers in the world, with City, Barcelona and Real Madrid all linked with him.

Van Persie has only one year left on his Arsenal contract and has declared he will not make a decision about his long-term future until the end of the season.

Gunners fans will understandably be concerned at his presence at Barcelona's team hotel ahead of the Catalan side's UEFA Champions League clash with Chelsea.

He was spotted talking to international team-mate Ibrahim Afellay and may also have been catching up with former Gunners team-mate Cesc Fabregas.

Van Persie extending his Arsenal contract may depend on how ambitious it is in the transfer market this northern summer, with the impending arrival of Germany star Lukas Podolski certainly a step in the right direction.

Wenger will be hoping Podolski settles as quickly as northern summer signing Andre Santos.

Brazilian left-back Santos has revealed how fellow new boy Mikel Arteta has done all he can to help him fit in.

"Mikel Arteta is Spanish and our languages are quite similar so he is helping me the most," Santos said.

"He is always giving me instructions about the Premier League. He played for Everton for a long time and arrived at Arsenal at the same time as I did so he helped me settle.

"We're always messing around in the changing room, on the pitch during the warm up.

"He's always saying something to make me laugh or calling me nicknames but it's always good-spirited, with no harm.

"We work together every day and need these moments of distraction.

"Us players always go out for dinner and social events together.

"I'm always doing something with Thomas Vermaelen, Bacary Sagna, Robin van Persie, Mikel, Yossi Benayoun, Ignasi Miquel and others.

"This link between us off the pitch is very strong and it benefits the team on the pitch."

England's hopes for success in Poland and Ukraine suffered another setback when Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger confirmed that the 20-year-old midfielder would not be fit.

Wenger also ruled Wilshere out of the Olympic football tournament, which begins seven weeks after the Euros, to leave him to focus on next season.

Despite admitting his disappointment at missing out on the chance to appear at a major international tournament for the first time, Wilshere vowed to work through the off-season to ensure he was ready for the start of next season.

"Gutted, sad, devastated..its been a test mentally for me this season and it will continue to be tough until I am back out on the pitch," Wilshere wrote on his Twitter page.

"My ankle is good, I just have a few niggles and having been out so long I will not be fit enough for the Euro's!

"I hope England can do well and bring home the cup! I will be watching and cheering the boys on like a proper england fan!"

"The hardest thing is being away from the game that I love and not being to able to help my team mates get 3rd place! I will be in all summer.

"Trying to get fit so I can help the team next season! No holidays, I just want to play and show AFC fans what I can do!"

A stress fracture to Wilshere's right ankle has sidelined him all season, but both the player and Wenger had been optimistic that he would return to play some part in the end-of-season run-in.

But speaking after Arsenal's surprise 2-1 loss at home to Wigan in the Premier League, Wenger said: "Jack Wilshere will not play again this season and will not go to the Euros, that is for sure.

"He is not ready to practice today or next week. He makes progress, but slow progress.

"What is for sure is he will not be ready for the end of the season and not for the Euros.

"He is devestated, and you can understand that."

Asked whether the Football Association, who is still searching for a permanent successor to Fabio Capello, had been informed of Wilshere's situation, Wenger said: "The FA know.

"At the moment, the manager is invisible, so I cannot tell him."

Wilshere's absence adds to England's problems ahead of Euro 2012 with the FA still to announce the new manager while it is also without a captain after John Terry's high-profile demotion.

England will also be without star striker Wayne Rooney for its opening two group games due to suspension.

The Latics had beaten leader Manchester United in midweek to build on their win at Liverpool, and were unfortunate not to get something from Chelsea last weekend after controversial decisions.

However, there was no injustice here as Franco Di Santo fired the visitor ahead after seven minutes, before Jordi Gomez doubled the lead inside 90 seconds.

Thomas Vermaelen reduced the deficit with a bullet header on 21 minutes, but the second-half onslaught from the shellshocked Gunners never came as the Latics moved five points clear of the relegation zone.

"We can all be very proud of the manner in which we performed," said the Spaniard, whose side had looked doomed at the turn of the year.

"We always had a mental block against top sides, but we got rid of that at Liverpool and have then felt we can compete against anyone.

"We were very good against Chelsea and deserved a positive result, but it was not a good day in terms of decisions - but nobody can argue we did not deserve the points against Manchester United and Arsenal.

"The second half tonight was as good as we have played this season."

It was a deserved fourth win in five games for Wigan, which hasnow lost just twice in 11 league matches.

Martinez added: "I always said we would click as a team at the beginning of February, and we had been playing really well but could not win games, which left us a bit frustrated with draws.

"But we have been patient and been able to be stubborn with what we wanted to do and get the results.

"However, we can't really enjoy it because moments like this will mean nothing if we don't get enough points to stay up."

Arsenal had won nine of the last 10 league games and could have tightened its grip on third place with another victory.

However, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger slammed his side's defending and also was left frustrated it could not replace Mikel Arteta quick enough when the midfielder hobbled off with an ankle injury which probably rules him out of next week's clash with Chelsea.

Wenger said: "We defended horrendously for the first and second goal. Everybody involved was included for the first and the second goal.

"On top of that we conceded a second goal with 10 men on the pitch. It took us too much time to change and it was absolutely unbelievable.

"After that we had a mountain to climb. I felt in the first half we had enough chances to come back to 2-2, but the second half we dropped our level, we lost our team play, our cohesion and tried too much individually. There was not enough petrol left in the tank anymore.

"We didn't see anyone who could make a difference."

Wenger added: "Chelsea is a massive and vital game for us. We need to recover from the massive disappointment of tonight first, then prepare mentally for the next one."

The Gunners boss was, however, less than impressed with Wigan's consistent time wasting - notably from goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi.

"I told the fourth official, 'you know what, he will do it all game, because he did it after 10 minutes, and with three minutes to go, he will get a yellow card'. That is exactly what happened," Wenger said.

"It is disrespectful to people who pay big money to watch the game.

"We are sorry we did not play well, but that the referees do not act on that is not right.

"I do not want to look for excuses. I congratulate Wigan, they did well, but I think whether it is tonight or in another game, the referee has to give him a yellow card the second he does it. After you will play football, is it for us or for someone else it is exactly the same."

Wenger added: "Every time the ball goes out on the right, you know the goal kick will go on the left, and he will play short, then do it again.

"I can understand they do it, but it is down to the referee not to allow them to do it."

Franco Di Santo fired the Latics - who last week beat leader Manchester United - ahead on the break after seven minutes, before Jordi Gomez doubled the lead inside 90 seconds.

Thomas Vermaelen reduced the deficit with a bullet header on 21 minutes, but the second-half onslaught from the shellshocked Gunners never came as the Latics moved five points clear of the relegation zone.

It had been a bright start by Arsenal, which was looking to tighten its grip on third place, as Yossi Benayoun forced Ali Al Habsi into a fingertip save from his close-range header.

The Latics had brought a small following of only some 200, who had perhaps travelled more in hope than genuine expectation.

However, it was the visitor which took a shock lead on seven minutes.

Wigan broke quickly from an Arsenal corner through Gomez down the left, who clipped the ball through to the on-rushing Di Santo.

Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny raced to the edge of his area, but was beaten to the ball and the Wigan striker went on to knock into an empty net.

Before the away support had time to calm down, they were in dreamland again less than 90 seconds later.

This time Victor Moses did the damage down the left, turning Bacary Sagna inside out, with his cross not gathered by Szczesny - and Gomez was on hand to scramble the loose ball over the line.

Emirates Stadium was left in stunned silence, with midfielder Mikel Arteta then limping off injured and replaced by Aaron Ramsey in the ninth minute.

Arsenal - which had won nine of its last 10 Premier League games - needed a response.

Benayoun was again denied by a fine one-handed save from Al Habsi as he looped Tomas Rosicky's cross towards the top corner.

The Gunners halved the deficit on 21 minutes when Vermaelen crashed in a bullet header from 12 yards after Rosicky's right-wing cross.

Al Habsi was alert again to beat away Robin van Persie's fierce drive as Arsenal pressed forward, centre-half Johan Djourou then dragging his shot just wide from the edge of the Wigan penalty area.

Arsenal maintained its momentum, and Rosicky should have done better than sky the ball high over the crossbar after being played in by Van Persie.

Wigan, which was unfortunate to lose at Chelsea amid some controversial decisions, continued to defend deep with two banks of four and made the most of any stoppages - much to the frustration of Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.

Arsenal came out on the offensive at the start of the second half, with Andre Santos' shot deflecting just away from Van Persie and then Theo Walcott.

Wigan, though, stuck to its game plan of organised defending, while also looking to break quickly down the flanks.

Moses was a real handful for Sagna, and got away again into the Arsenal box on 52 minutes before forcing Szczesny into a reaction save.

Vermaelen headed over from Van Persie's corner, before Santos stabbed a cutback by his captain wide from six yards when he really should have hit the target.

Moses could have extended Wigan's advantage when put through on 59 minutes, but shot tamely at Szczesny.

Wenger had seen enough, replacing Benayoun with Gervinho to inject some fresh life into the attack.

There was then a stoppage as Di Santo and Sagna clashed heads, fortunately both were able to continue.

Arsenal stepped up the pressure again, but once more the Wigan rearguard stood firm.

With 16 minutes left, Wenger sent on teenager Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, sacrificing Djourou as Alex Song dropped into the back four. Wigan responded by replacing Di Santo with Conor Sammon.

Gervinho was switching flanks intermittently, and his ball from the left floated across the face of goal.

Maynor Figueroa appeared to barge Walcott over as the Arsenal forward scampered away down the right, but referee Andre Marriner waved play on.

There was five minutes of stoppage-time, but despite plenty of Arsenal pressure, Wigan held out for a deserved win, its first at Emirates Stadium, which could just keep it in the Premier League.

Wilshere, 20, has spent the entire season on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on his injured ankle last September.

The midfielder has yet to train with the first team and is still confined to training by himself in the gym.

Arsenal has five games remaining this season but Wenger remains cautious over whether Wilshere will play any part.

Wenger said: "I will not take any risks with him. He is making slow progress so we still have to monitor the situation a little bit at the moment.

"We are now in mid-April, the Euros start in the middle of June. Jack has not played for the whole season and anyone who knows what is required at the top level, in terms of intensity, it's getting short now."

When asked if Wilshere's spirits were high, Wenger added: "How can you be at 19 years of age when you're only dream is to play football. He's down.

"Jack is mentally strong. But what is holding him back is that he can't play football, so he can't be happy."

Meanwhile, Wenger wants referees to be allowed to stop the game to consult video technology to make decisions in the Premier League.

Wenger's call comes after a week of high-profile mistakes by match officials which saw two offside goals awarded to Chelsea against Wigan Athletic last Sunday and Manchester United deprived of a clear penalty for handball against Wigan on Thursday.

Wenger said: "Last weekend was a very, very bad weekend. The football authorities on a global scale have to sit together and see how we can improve.

"There are some immediate decisions to make but as well it is time for us to help the referees. To all be united and have a less conservative approach and finally opt for video.

"Video will help the referees. Not question their authority. It will give them more credit, more authority and less mistakes. (We need) instant video replays on the demand of the referee."

Wenger denies it would slow down the game which has been a main concern of FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

He added: "It would not stop the game. It would sometimes give a bigger flow to the game. Why? Because if I am a linesman and an offside decision is a 50-50 I'm tempted to stop the game.

"If I know I have a video behind me I am tempted to let it go if I'm convinced it is a real 50-50 and you could improve the flow of the game and check after."

Benayoun is on a season-long loan at the Gunners from Chelsea and, at present, his temporary club seem the more likely to qualify for Europe's major domestic competition.

He scored the third goal in the 3-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers which put Arsene Wenger's side five points clear of fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

Benayoun said: "I think it is difficult to speak now about the future. It's better to concentrate on the five weeks that are left of the season and do my best for the club.

"I am fully committed to Arsenal and after that we will see. After June 30, I am going back to Chelsea and then the club decides and I need to decide also.

"Each one has to think what is best for them, but the most important thing is to concentrate on these five weeks and whatever will be, will be."

Former Liverpool player Benayoun added: "I will not lie. I love Chelsea because I have a good relationship there. I didn't play much because I had a big injury.

"I still have a lot of friends there I talk to every day. Of course, I want them to do well but it is difficult. I am committed to Arsenal 100 percent and I don't think about Chelsea or another team.

"I want first Arsenal to finish in the top three and, if it depended on me, I want Chelsea to finish in the top four and Liverpool also to finish in the top four. But it can't happen."

Benayoun concedes he had to leave Stamford Bridge, at least in the short term, because he felt he would not get many opportunities under then manager Andre Villas-Boas.

He said: "I have a good relationship with the owners at Chelsea and, when I decided to take this step, Roman Abramovich gave me the permission to do what I want and choose the team to go to.

"I was negotiating with three teams, but as soon as I heard Arsenal were in, I knew it was a big chance for me.

"I knew that with Villas-Boas, I felt I would not get enough credit, although I felt good in the pre-season and I did a few good games, so I took the decision (to go on loan).

"I have not played as much as I would want but it is great to be at a club like Arsenal. The dressing room is so great and to be at a big club is always nice."

Benayoun admits he has had to be patient for his opportunities to start games with the Gunners, but has now been in the first XI for the last two games against Manchester City and Wolves.

He said: "It has been up and down this season for me. I try to be focused and concentrated but it's not easy. I was waiting all the time for my chance.

"A few times in the season I got my chance and then didn't get another for a long time. But in big clubs, you have to be patient.

"I have had the luck to be at three big clubs and I know you have to be patient, wait for your chance and when I get it, try to do my best.

"There are a lot of quality players and big competition. I'm ready to do what's needed. If I need to play 10 minutes, I do my best and if I start, I do my best also."

Van Persie netted against a 17th different team in the same season with his penalty at Molineux and he has only failed to hit the target against Manchester City and Fulham.

It mirrored the achievement of former Gunners hotshot, Ian Wright, who scored against every other side bar Manchester United and Sunderland in a 38-game season during the 1996-1997 campaign.

The Dutchman ended his four-game run without a goal to take his overall tally to 34 in all competitions this season.

Wenger said: "It is important for a striker, even like Robin van Persie who was not used to not scoring in the season, to find the net.

"He equalled the record of Ian Wright who scored against 17 different teams out of 19 in the Premier League.

"That is absolutely remarkable in the modern game to be able to do that. I'd like to congratulate him on that.

"When you only have 19 teams, and your striker has scored against 17 teams, that is something sensational.

"He could have beaten the record if he had scored against Manchester City at the weekend."

Arsenal is now five points clear of fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur in the battle for a UEFA Champions League place.

Wenger said: "It was overall a fantastic win. I'm very happy to be in this position but also very cautious as some teams were in the position we are in now before.

"We want to win our next game and from where we have come (trailing behind Tottenham at one stage) helps us be focused.

"We have come from very deep and being in that position helps us focus on that next game."

Theo Walcott and Yossi Benayoun were the other scorers for the Gunners.

Wenger admitted he is puzzled at Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli escaping action after his challenge on Alex Song in the weekend clash, compared to Queens Park Rangers skipper Shaun Derry being sent off after making contact with Manchester United's Ashley Young.

He said: "I don't still understand well. If you look at, for example, the case of Balotelli, okay you get an explanation and okay you have to accept it.

"If you look at the case of Derry and think okay you can accept it.

"But if you put the two together it looks absolutely unbelievable that one is suspended and the other isn't.

"But when the ref has seen something, no-one can get over the rule. I think we should have an exceptional committee of ethics to get over that.

"The global situation does not make sense. For people who love football, it is difficult to understand why one is not punished at all and the other one is punished.

"I'm not keen to get Balotelli suspended but for football fans it is difficult to understand."

Wolves is now nine points adrift of safety and manager Terry Connor felt it harsh for Sebastien Bassong to be red-carded for the challenge on Walcott which led to the Van Persie spot-kick.

He said: "There's definitely a tangle. The interpretation was Bassong fouled Theo. I just don't think the punishment fitted the actual crime.

"You could argue that he was the last man. The ref has no choice according to the rules but the rules look a bit harsh.

"It spoils the game for the supporters a little because they know they (Wolves) have little chance after that to come back."

As regards his side's current plight, Connor said: There a chance and I have asked the lads to replicate that performance for the next five games and what will be will be.

"If they play with the heart, spirit and determination they did tonight, I can't ask anymore."

Van Persie scored the opener from the penalty spot after Wolves' on-loan defender Sebastien Bassong was sent off for bringing down Walcott, who added a second a minute later.

Yossi Benayoun netted the third after the break and the Gunners are now five points clear of fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League with just five games remaining.

In contrast, bottom side Wolves moved a step closer to relegation after a seventh successive defeat.

The two early goals and Bassong's departure effectively killed the game as a contest, although the home side could not be faulted for effort with Kevin Doyle impressing as the lone striker.

Arsenal's turnaround has been remarkable as it registered a ninth win in 10 games after trailing Spurs at the start of February by eight points.

Van Persie had the first attempt on goal after his own corner had been cleared straight back to him, but the striker's low volley was comfortably dealt with by Wolves goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey.

Matt Jarvis posed the first moment of danger to the Gunners but his probing centre just eluded Doyle at the far post.

After eight minutes Van Persie put Arsenal ahead from the penalty spot as Wolves was reduced to 10 men.

Bassong was adjudged to have brought down Walcott as he raced onto Benayoun's pass and was sent off by referee Neil Swarbrick.

Van Persie stepped up and coolly dinked the ball over Hennessey after he had dived to the right for his 34th goal of the season and first in five matches.

Wolves made an instant substitution with centre-back Christophe Berra replacing midfielder David Davis as it reverted to a 4-4-1 system.

However, it could not handle the pace of Walcott and he doubled Arsenal's lead after 10 minutes.

The England player exchanged passes with Van Persie before curling the ball past Hennessey into the corner of the net.

In a rare Wolves attack Berra had a header deflected wide from a Michael Kightly corner.

Santos screwed a shot across the face of goal but the Gunners looked to have lost some of their early intensity, such was their control of the game.

Arsenal was soon back on the offensive in the second half and Aaron Ramsey had a shot blocked by Richard Stearman after a run into the box before Mikel Arteta teed up a good chance which Van Persie fired wide.

Wolves was showing plenty of fight and a superb save from Wojciech Szczesny denied Doyle.

Jarvis sent over a perfect cross for the Republic of Ireland international but his header was palmed away by Szczesny at full stretch.

However, Benayoun ended the mini revival by making it 3-0 after 68 minutes. Milijas lost the ball in midfield and Song teed up Benayoun 20 yards out to beat Hennessey with a low drive.

Doyle had a shot blocked by Johan Djourou as Wolves searched for a consolation goal.

Arsenal substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain then had an effort from the edge of the box deflected past the post as his side ended the match on the offensive.

Wolves ended with a flourish as Szczesny turned aside a Milijas drive in injury-time, but it was well beaten.

The Gunners are overwhelming favourites to sink rock-bottom Wolves at Molineux and open up a five-point gap on arch rival Tottenham in the race for the Premier League's final automatic UEFA Champions League spot.

That would be a significant cushion with just five games remaining, of which Arsenal could probably then afford to lose at least two.

But manager Wenger said: "The only target we know we can do is if we get our resources together for the next game. That is the only way to do it.

"You don't know what the others will do, so let's just win our games."

Pundits have been scouring the run-ins of Arsenal, Tottenham, fifth-placed Newcastle and sixth-placed Chelsea to try to glean where points may be won and lost.

Wenger said: "For some people these predictions are their job.

"Believe me, they don't know much better than you or me and the result of every game is just a consequence of your performance on the day.

"Nobody can really predict that because your performance on the day depends on you, but also depends on the other team as well. To predict both is nearly impossible.

"You can have an idea but football has surprised us so many times, especially recently in the last two or three months."

He added: "Let's not anticipate, that is something else that is important.

"When it gets to the last sprint, focus on the next game becomes the most important part because you are always tempted to anticipate."

Arsenal fans were certainly anticipating victory in their last away game at Queens Park Rangers but they were given another rude awakening when their six-match winning streak came to a shuddering halt.

That was the first ever league defeat for the Gunners while playing a back four made up of Bacary Sagna, Laurent Koscielny, Thomas Vermaelen and Kieran Gibbs.

Koscielny will be missing for the next two games after picking up a two-match ban for his 10th yellow card of the season.

Wenger confirmed Johan Djourou would deputise on Wednesday night and backed the Switzerland star to fill the void.

He said: "Djourou has done well recently when he came in. He will come in again on Wednesday night and I am confident."

Wenger questioned Koscielny's punishment after he failed to make the yellow card amnesty by a matter of hours.

"As we understand the situation, with a red card he would have been less suspended than with one yellow," he said.

"It is not completely logical but we have to take it on board and he will be suspended for the next two games."

Gunners midfielder Arteta, whose stunning goal may have shot down Manchester City's title hopes in last weekend's 1-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium, stopped short of predicting a title challenge in 2012-2013 but was confident of improving on third place.

Arsenal can take a huge step towards finishing best of the rest behind Manchester United and City this season if it wins at rock-bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday evening (Thursday morning AEST) and go five points clear of arch-rival Tottenham Hotspur.

But northern summer signing Arteta already had one eye on next term, when he believes the squad will be even stronger.

He said: "We've missed big players this season, Abou Diaby, Jack Wilshere. They haven't played at all and are massive players.

"We know we have really good players and maybe, just maybe, we can do even better than what we have done this year."

For now, Arteta will settle for third place, something that looked unthinkable after Arsenal made its worst start to a season for 58 years.

He said: "Third place gives you direct access to the Champions League. It's really important. It's been a big fight, we have come all the way through from the back.

"We've put in a big effort, we are in a strong position now and we don't want to waste it."

The Gunners have now won seven of their past eight games but such has been their fragility at the business end of the season in recent years, their sole loss at Queens Park Rangers just over a week ago sparked fears of another collapse.

Arteta said: "We had a setback at QPR and it says a lot for our spirit that we came straight back.

"Everyone was saying we were in trouble again. Newcastle look really strong, Chelsea keep winning and I'm sure they'll be there until the end.

"It will be a big fight and I think it will go right until the end.

"There are some big games ahead. Everyone must play each other, we've got Chelsea here, got to go to Stoke so it can change again."

Arteta is weighing in with his share of goals, scoring twice in the past four matches.

That has been vital considering captain Robin van Persie has suddenly dried up, failing to net for four successive matches for the first time since 2010.

Arteta said: "I'm trying to contribute the best way to the team that I can.

"Scoring goals is not one of my most important jobs in the team because we have better players in the team to do that but it's always nice to help.

"Robin has been creating goals for other players. As long as we keep winning, that's the most important thing. We are also keeping clean sheets as well which is important from now until the end of the season."

Manager Arsene Wenger was full of praise for Arteta's contribution.

"One of the qualities he has that is not always appreciated at its right level is the focus," Wenger said.

"He has consistent focus from the first to the last minute to win, and that takes advantage of every mistake the opponent can make.

"His goal [against City] typifies that because he wins the ball as well and scores behind that, because he has a good concentration level."

Wenger was similarly effusive about on-loan midfielder Yossi Benayoun, who has proven something of a talisman in his limited appearances recently.

The Gunners boss revealed he had yet to make a decision about whether to try to buy the Chelsea schemer.

He said: "That will happen at the end of the season.

"We have to look at the situation in a global way because we have many players out on loan so we need to deal with these situations."

Wenger will be forced into at least one change, with defender Laurent Koscielny serving a two-match ban for picking up his 10th booking of the season hours before the amnesty cut-off.

Wenger said: "As we understand the situation, with a red card he would have been less suspended than with one yellow.

"It is not completely logical but we have to take it on board and he will be suspended for the next two games."

The club will once again face a Malaysian XI at the the Bukit Jalil Stadium on Tuesday, 24 July, on what will be the first leg of its Asia tour.

The Gunners will also travel to China to play against Manchester City in Beijing on Friday, 27 July, and visit Hong Kong for a match against Kitchee FC two days later.

Sunday's 1-0 defeat at the Emirates Stadium - further marred by another Mario Balotelli meltdown - left Roberto Mancini's men facing a barren season, with arch-rivals Manchester United going into the final six matches eight points clear at the summit.

That represents a remarkable turnaround, with City having held a five-point lead just over a month ago - admittedly having played a game more.

It was also five points clear back in October when it won the Manchester derby 6-1 at Old Trafford, having previously thrashed Tottenham 5-1 at White Hart Lane in August.

But while United has gone from strength to strength, City has self-combusted on its travels since the turn of the year, with even its victories edgy affairs.

Midfielder Milner said: "We have played well for the majority of the season, but have come unstuck for whatever reason over the past few weeks, most of the time away from home.

"We have been very strong at home, but away have not got the results we want.

"It is about having that ruthlessness on the road which we can learn from."

City never looked like winning on Sunday the way Mancini set them up, with watching chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak looking far from impressed by what he saw.

Milner said: "Everyone has good days and bad days.

"We did not keep the ball as well as we can.

"We were still in the game going into the final 10 minutes, which is what the good teams do.

"When you are under pressure, it is about staying tight, restricting their chances and hoping you can nick one at the other end, but that just did not happen.

"They had more than enough chances, but the boys defended well, the centre-halves were magnificent, so were Gael Clichy and Joe Hart.

"Credit to the lads, but it was just not enough."

He added: "As a team, we have set standards throughout the season, but we have not met them.

"We knew it would be a tough game, but we did not perform how we know we can for whatever reason, loss of confidence, fatigue.

"We have given everything we can, and it was not good enough.

"But we have another game in a couple of days and have to pick ourselves up and go again."

Mancini, whose position will surely come under further scrutiny, must somehow lift his men for Wednesday's match against West Bromwich Albion, which sees striker Balotelli serve the first instalment of what is currently a three-match ban following his sending off on Sunday.

The Italian will learn on Tuesday whether he faces missing the rest of the season when the Football Association ask the match officials whether they failed to spot his clash with Alex Song.

Replays showed Balotelli going in knee-high on the Arsenal midfielder, who was fortunate to escape serious injury.

Milner refused to answer any questions about the conduct of Balotelli, who Mancini admitted he would "probably" sell in the summer.

The City boss also refused to concede the title, sentiments echoed by England star Milner.

Admitting Mancini had set a target of seven straight wins before Sunday's game, the 26-year-old said: "From now, we will try to win the remaining six, which is all we can do and see where that takes us.

"We just have to concentrate on doing what we have to do, on our own game and, whatever happens this season, whether we win it or don't, we have to make sure we learn from the good and the poor things which have gone on."

Arsenal moved back into third place on Sunday after a late 25-yard strike from Mikel Arteta secured an eighth win in the last nine games as City's resistance was finally broken.

City's misery was then compounded by the dismissal of maverick striker Mario Balotelli in stoppage time as it fell eight points behind leaders Manchester United, who had beaten Queens Park Rangers earlier in the day.

The Gunners needed a response following last weekend's lacklustre 2-1 defeat by the relegation-battling Hoops at Loftus Road and did not disappoint.

"We know Manchester City and Manchester United are in a fight for the title, but we are also in a massive fight for third place, which is really important," said Vermaelen, who inadvertently blocked a goal-bound header from Arsenal captain Robin van Persie after 15 minutes.

"We only look at ourselves and try to win every game.

"It was a really important win, especially after the result from last week because we are in a big fight for third place."

The Belgian centre-half added: "We had good momentum before QPR, when we had seven wins in a row.

"The game at QPR was a real negative moment so it was important to get the three points again, especially against Manchester City, who are a contender for the title."

The victory moved Arsenal two points clear of rivals Tottenham Hotspur and closed up to potentially within striking distance of the Blues, should City now crumble over the final six games.

While Wenger does not believe for a minute City is about to "give up", the Arsenal boss concedes there remains lingering thoughts of what might have been had his squad found this consistency earlier in a difficult campaign.

"We have taken 24 points out of 27 and the points we got, many of them were deserved, so we have improved as a team, that is 100% for sure," he said.

"We started from too deep and we got a blip in January which cost us severely because now we are nine points behind City.

"You could see that even starting where we started, if we had not lost our games in January we could be there [challenging]."

Arsenal head to bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday night with Wenger acutely aware of the need to avoid a repeat of the performance produced at QPR against another of the sides involved in the relegation dogfight.

"You have to deal now with a team that will fight not to go down, so it will demand the same commitment as against Manchester City," he said.

"Wolves will fight for their survival and are dangerous as well."

Laurent Koscielny picked up a 10th yellow card of the season when treading on Gareth Barry's ankle in the second half, which will mean the French defender must now serve a two-match ban.

Vermaelen may well have a new central defensive partner at Molineux, but the Belgian captain knows there can be no drop in concentration.

"Every game is important for us at the moment, and each one will be hard," he said.

"You could see that at QPR, and we dropped points there, so Wolves will be the same.

"We have to be on the top of our toes and play well there."

City boss Mancini also appeared to suggest Balotelli would not play again for him this season, although the club later claimed he said that because he expected the Football Association to throw the book at the controversial 21-year-old.

Balotelli will serve a ban of at least three matches after his sending off in his side's 1-0 defeat at the Emirates Stadium and Mancini seemed to call on the FA to take further action against his own player for a knee-high challenge on Alex Song that went unpunished.

Asked for how long he he could put up with Balotelli's antics, Mancini said: "I am finished. We have six games and he will not play in the next six games."

Pushed further on whether he would try to sell Balotelli at the end of the season, Mancini replied: "Probably - but I don't know. It depends, because Balotelli is a fantastic player.

"I can continue to play with Mario on the pitch. Every time, we risk one sent off, like today.

"But he can score also in the last minute."

Asked if the authorities should examine the incident with Song that referee Martin Atkinson and assistant Peter Kirkup took no action over, Mancini said 'I hope so' and admitted the striker deserved a lengthy ban.

Mancini insisted he kept Balotelli on the pitch because he did not see the tackle on Song until after the game and defended his decision not to substitute him even after he had been booked for another bad challenge on Bacary Sagna.

Mancini, who has known Balotelli since the forward was 17, added: "I love him as a guy, I love him as a player, because I know him.

"He's not a bad guy. He's a fantastic player.

"But, at this moment, I'm very sorry for him because he continues to lose his talent, his quality.

"I hope, for him, that he can understand that he's in a bad way for his future, and he can change his behaviour."

Jose Mourinho branded Balotelli - who has been at the centre of countless controversies during his career - 'unmanageable' while Inter Milan boss and Mancini admitted he would agree if the player did not mend his ways.

But he defended his own handling of his fellow Italian, insisting he had 'punished' the striker several times.

He said: "All the people who say I have different behaviour with Mario than the other players, it's not true, totally false, totally false."

Mancini admitted Balotelli had created 'big problems' for his team-mates but joked the media would be happy for him to stay in the Premier League.

"If Mario leaves England, what will you do?" he said.

"You should be happy if Mario stays here. You can write one, two or three pages in your newspapers!"

Mancini also admitted the defeat 'probably' ended City's title hopes, with Manchester United having earlier opened up an eight-point gap.

He said: "United, in the last 12 games, have won 11 with one draw. They've done incredibly in the last two months.

"But, in football, it can change. Ten days ago, we were one point behind. Today, we are eight points. This can change also for them.

"Clearly, they have more experience than us, so probably it's difficult, but until it's impossible, we need to hope."

Mancini insisted he was '100 percent' the right man to guide City to the title, pointing out the improvements he had made.

There was more bad news for the visitor, with Yaya Toure likely to miss Wednesday evening's (Thursday morning AEST) match with West Bromwich Albion after being forced off with a knee injury.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger had every right to be as furious with a Balotelli challenge that could have broken Song's leg.

But he said: "Fortunately, he didn't."

He added: "If the referee had television, he would have given him a red card.

"I thought it was a bad tackle. I said to my physio, 'What happened to Song?' because he said he was touched at the knee.

"I thought maybe it was a red card but I didn't know until I saw it."

Unlike Mancini, Wenger said he could sense Balotelli was on the edge.

"He flirted with 'orange' a few times," he said, refusing to be drawn on how he would handle the explosive forward.

"I don't know him and it's not my job to do that. I don't want to interfere with Mancini's job.

"Everybody has his cases in his own camp and I have enough work."

Arsenal was a worthy winner, Mikel Arteta striking a superb clincher moments before Balotelli's dismissal to leave it two points clear of Tottenham Hotspur in third place and five ahead of Chelsea.

The result must have been all the more satisfying against a side that have poached several Arsenal players but Wenger refused to put the boot in.

Asked if the Gunners had ended City's title hopes, he said: "Not completely, no.

"They cannot afford to drop any points now. Once the team 'smelt the stable', it's difficult for them to drop points.

"In French, you say when a horse smells its stable, it's difficult to stop them."

Leader Manchester United had earlier opened up an eight-point lead over its bitter rival with its 2-0 win over Queens Park Rangers at Old Trafford, leaving Roberto Mancini's men with little room for error.

However, the Gunners - chasing a place back in the top three - raised their own game and created enough chances to have been well ahead by half-time, with Robin van Persie's goalbound header striking team-mate Thomas Vermaelen.

After the woodwork twice again came to City's rescue in the second half, the Gunners were not to be denied as, with three minutes left, Arteta strode forwards to smash a superb, 25-yard drive past Joe Hart into the bottom corner

City finished the match with 10 men when Balotelli, who should have been sent off for a studs-up challenge on Song in the first half which was missed by referee Martin Atkinson and his assistants, was shown a second yellow card for clattering into Bacary Sagna.

Mancini cut a forlorn figure at the final whistle, as his position will now once again come under intense scrutiny.

Arsenal started strongly, with both Theo Walcott and Sagna stretching former team-mate Gael Clichy on the overlap.

Tomas Rosicky was seeing plenty of the ball and on nine minutes the Czech midfielder's drive was deflected behind.

Yaya Toure, who once had a trial at Arsenal as a youngster, was left in a heap after a clash of knees with Song, and the Cote d'Ivoire midfielder hobbled off for treatment.

On 14 minutes, Arsenal had a shout for a penalty when Vincent Kompany looked to have pushed Van Persie in the back as the ball was floated into the City penalty area.

Toure was unable to continue, and while the visitor was down to 10 men, it almost went behind.

A corner from the left was flicked through the City six-yard box, where Van Persie headed it goalwards, only for the ball to cannon back of team-mate Vermaelen on the line and up onto the crossbar, with Rosicky nodding the rebound over.

City made an enforced change on 17 minutes as David Pizarro replaced Toure.

Balotelli then caught Song with a studs-up challenge just below the knee. Neither Atkinson nor his assistant on the touchline saw the poor tackle which, if they had, would have surely resulted in a red card for the controversial Italian striker. Fortunately, Cameroon international Song was able to recover and continue.

On 25 minutes, Balotelli popped up in the Arsenal penalty area to flick a corner goalwards, and when his shot was blocked by Kieran Gibbs, the maverick City forward took his frustrations out by kicking the base of the post.

The Italian finally received a caution for catching Sagna with a high boot on 38 minutes.

It was perhaps something of a surprise to see the 21-year-old return for the second half, Mancini electing to keep faith with a player whom he openly admits he may well have punched were they team-mates.

City went on the offensive, with Sergio Aguero's looping header tipped over by Szczesny.

At the other end, Blues keeper Hart was a bystander as Van Persie came even closer to breaking the deadlock on 62 minutes after he was picked out from a floated cross by Song, but his cushioned header came back off the base of the post when perhaps the Dutchman - without a goal in three games - should really have hit the back of the net.

On 66 minutes, Laurent Koscielny caught Gareth Barry on the ankle to collect a 10th yellow card of the season, and with it a likely two-game suspension.

It was then City's turn to spurn a great chance when Kompany headed a deep free-kick back across the Arsenal six-yard box, but Balotelli failed to connect with his attempted scissors-kick.

The Gunners broke away through Song, who slipped Van Persie clear on the left side of the penalty area to slot past Hart, but the Dutchman had strayed just offside.

City's goal continued to lead a charmed life as Walcott's shot was tipped on to the far post by Hart, with Vermaelen then scuffing the rebound which Benayoun could not force past Joleon Lescott on the line.

On 87 minutes, Arsenal finally made the breakthrough - and effectively gift-wrapped the championship for United - when Mikel Arteta strode forwards to fire a brilliant 25-yard strike into the bottom corner.

Balotelli then lunged in on Sagna out on the far touchline, and was shown a second yellow card, swiftly followed by a red as City's season crumbled.

Leader Manchester United could open up an eight-point gap with a home victory over struggling QPR a couple of hours before City kicks off at Emirates Stadium.

Blues boss Roberto Mancini feels should his side then lose to the Gunners, it would be almost impossible to overhaul such a deficit in the remaining six games.

Wenger, though, does not believe things can be put so simply.

He said: "It will not be over, but it will make things very, very difficult.

"City will [fight until the last], certainly, but I believe we should wait and see what happens over the weekend.

"Unfortunately we are not involved in the title race and we will let them sort it out between themselves, but at the moment Manchester United have the advantage."

Wenger insists there can be no thoughts of ending City's title dreams when his men look to recover from the 2-1 defeat at QPR last weekend, which halted a run of seven straight league wins which saw them climb back up into third place.

"Our job is always to cope with the consequences of the game, but before you just focus on what you want to do well," he said. "The momentum is still there because in the last eight games we have won seven, so it was an interruption and a disappointment.

"We want to come back to what was our recent level, that means playing well and therefore winning the game."

Mancini has endured his own set of personnel issues this season - and the City boss joked if he was in the same dressing room as Mario Balotelli he may well have punched the mercurial forward, who continues to make as many headlines off the pitch as on it.

Wenger is no stranger to dealing with testing personalities during his 16 seasons with the Gunners, and believes sometimes from the outside it is all too easy to make a quick judgement.

"You don't always have to believe what you read because people like the excesses of people," Wenger said.

"You need to work with players on a daily basis to know how difficult they are to manage.

"I feel usually players are happy on a football pitch and it's not as difficult as you think it is.

"Usually all the players are manageable because they have gone through the youth teams, they have survived in teams in dressing rooms."

Arsenal has this week had to sort the fallout from striker Marouane Chamakh being photographed smoking a shisha pipe with Morocco international team-mate Adel Taarabt hours after they had lost at Loftus Road.

Wenger said the matter had been deal with "internally", adding it was "not the best thing to do".

The Frenchman, however, stressed it was "too early to answer" whether Chamakh would still be at the club next season, with Germany international Lukas Podolski set for a £10 million ($15.5 million) off-season move to Emirates Stadium.

"We want him to focus completely, without smoking, until the end of the season," Wenger said.

Wenger does not want Sunday's showdown to be about anything other than how his players perform.

"If you look at the big games you do not have to say too much," he said.

"You make sure your team plays at its best and do not focus too much on your opponent because there are so many players you could focus on that the most important thing lies in your own camp."

The 20-year-old has not featured at all for Arsenal because of an ankle injury which required surgery.

Gunners manager Wenger said: "We try to keep the hope alive for him and without taking too many risks.

"That means we adapt day to day, to manage him, to improve his physical state and get him fit as quickly as we can without taking too big a risk, which means when he has pain we stop him."

On the prospect of Wilshere being involved for England in the northern summer, Wenger added: "To go to a big competition without having played at all is impossible.

"In the next four or five weeks we will know more and the next three weeks will be decisive.

"You would think a player who wants to play in June will have to be competitive at the end of April.

"The next three weeks will decide [if he can go to the Euros]."

The Gunners have endured a tumultuous campaign full of highs and lows, although they now look set for a top four finish against the odds.

However, defeats earlier in the campaign against the likes of AC Milan and Sunderland led to questions over the side.

Wenger, though, insists he has had no qualms over his side's quality and believes its attitude has helped it through the bad times.

"Of course you question yourself, and you question what you can do about it, even more than you do when all is going well," Wenger told this month's Official Arsenal Magazine.

"When things are going well the players the press and the fans all have more certainty, and so it's easier.

"But it's these moments when experience helps, because it's important not to question and change the wrong things.

"How do you know what is right and what is wrong? Well you just try to analyse the situation as well as you can.

"We do that as a group in the coaching team of course, and as well I go home and think about things by myself.

"Part of the job is to make decisions, and in the end somebody has to do that. You have to be decisive - it's better to make a bad decision than no decision at all."

He added: "Personally I never question the attitude of this team, which I may have done in some previous years.

"But this season, never. I've always returned home thinking this team will never give up, they are always ready for a fight.

"I must say Robin van Persie has done an outstanding job of leading the team, as have many players - people like [Thomas] Vermaelen, [Mikel] Arteta, [Alex] Song, [Bacary] Sagna.

"I don't want to leave people out but the senior players have played a big part in setting the tone in the squad."

Wenger concedes it has been an 'eventful season' from July onwards and one that has tested the mental strength of all involved with the club.

The Frenchman believes Arsenal has benefited from those experiences and highlighted the 5-2 comeback victory over north London rival Tottenham Hotspur as the game that bolstered its resolve.

"We have shown an exceptional response, togetherness and belief," he said.

"I am very proud of that because certainly the way we came back against Tottenham strengthened that belief and also created optimism around the team again with our fans.

"That result also helped us to then come back against Liverpool and Newcastle.

"So it was a good test for us, and will continue to be until the end of the season."

The Gunners' seven-match winning run in the Premier League was brought to an unceremonious end with a 2-1 defeat at relegation battler Queens Park Rangers last weekend.

Manager Arsene Wenger admitted his players lost duels all over the pitch, with Tottenham Hotspur making the most of the opportunity to beat Swansea City and close back level on points in the battle for third place.

Walcott, who scored Arsenal's equaliser at Loftus Road, is in no doubt the Gunners will be ready to show their strength of character once more this weekend, where victory could all but end City's title hopes if Manchester United extends its lead to eight points in the day's early kick-off.

"I think that we can deal with pressure when it is thrown upon our shoulders," Walcott told www.Arsenal.com

"The manager always takes it on his back, but as players we can cope with that now because we had that tough period.

"We had a lot of injuries, things weren't going our way and Tottenham were 10 points ahead, but we dealt with that, we continued playing our football and completely turned it around.

"When people play at their full potential it makes the job so much easier. We need to learn to do this more often."

Walcott added: "We are learning to grind out results now. The Everton game for example, saw us play very well for 20 minutes but after that it was all Everton. But we still won 1-0 and that is what we need to do more often.

"We have real character in the squad, a lot of leaders and captains, and that helps us."

Arsenal has not lost at home since being beaten 2-1 by Manchester United on 22 January.

Walcott believes the Emirates Stadium can again prove 'a fortress' this weekend.

He added: "The fans expect us to win every game, and we expect to go out there, play our best and we feel we can win every game.

"The Emirates is starting to become a fortress, which is what we want it to be. That is with the help of the fans, they develop that.

"Away fans and players don't like to come to the Emirates, especially over the last few months. It helps us players, it is like having an extra man on the field."

Arsenal played a behind-closed-doors friendly on Wednesday afternoon against Birmingham City.

Several of the first-team squad were involved in the 1-1 draw, including Johan Djourou, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Yossi Benayoun, Marouane Chamakh, Gervinho and goalscorer Park Ju-young.

Although midfielder Jack Wilshere is continuing his recovery from an ankle problem, the England midfielder was never scheduled to feature.

The clamour for Arsenal winger Oxlade-Chamberlain to be a wildcard pick for this northern summer's finals has grown since the start of the year, with the 18-year-old having earned rave reviews for his performances in the Premier League and UEFA Champions League.

Oxlade-Chamberlain told Arsenal Player: "It would be very nice but I don't get too far ahead of myself or get carried away."

Oxlade-Chamberlain was controversially omitted from caretaker England manager Stuart Pearce's first squad for February's friendly against the Netherlands, denying him his maiden senior cap.

But Pearce insisted he would consider taking the Under-21 star to Poland and Ukraine were he to remain in charge this northern summer.

England is currently without a permanent manager or captain after Fabio Capello's shock resignation almost two months ago, with neither vacancy set to be filled until the end of the season.

It is a far-from-ideal state of affairs leading into a major tournament but Oxlade-Chamberlain believes it has the players to triumph.

"There are a lot of good teams like Spain and Holland, but you have to say England have what it takes to get to the final and even win it," he said.

"We have a lot of really good players in this country and a lot of experienced players."

Oxlade-Chamberlain is one of several Arsenal youngsters who have put their hands up for EURO 2012, with Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott also in the frame.

He said: "The fact that they are pushing on already and are in the England squad, while playing week in week out in the Premier League, can only be good.

"There are a lot of English players coming through, such as the likes of Danny Welbeck and Kyle Walker, while at Arsenal we have the likes of Jack Wilshere and Theo.

"As long as everyone keeps progressing as they are at the moment, it will be good for England's future.

"We have a lot of English talent here at Arsenal and we will all be working hard to get into the national team.

"The longer you play with people, the better you get to know them.

"You bond, and being around the same players means that you bounce off each other. It will be good for the future.

"For their age, they are all really mature and fearless.

"You forget how young Jack is - he is such a confident lad - but at the same time they are all humble as well.

"When it comes to football, they are really focused and just get on with the job.

"They are technically very good and have the right mindsets to become world-class players."

Oxlade-Chamberlain knows he must continue performing for Arsenal if he is to stand any chance of booking a place on the plane to Poland and Ukraine.

The Gunners are currently in a four-way battle to secure Champions League football next season, with arch-rival Tottenham Hotspur level on points in the Premier League and Chelsea and Newcastle United a further five behind.

Oxlade-Chamberlain added: "My main focus is to see the end of the season out with Arsenal and help us do as well as we can.

"We have a long way to go to get a Champions League spot and hopefully top three as well.

"It would be very nice, but one step at a time is the way to go."

Meanwhile, rookie goalkeeper Damian Martinez wants to follow in Wojciech Szczesny's footsteps by starring on loan at another club before returning to challenge the Pole for the number one spot.

Szczesny made his name during a spell at Brentford that ultimately helped him break into the Gunners' first team.

Martinez, 19, said: "Wojciech said he wasn't ready for the first team yet so he went out on loan and learned so much there.

"Next season, a loan spell could be an option for me."

The Rennes midfielder has long been linked with the Gunners, who reportedly watched him during last night's Ligue 1 draw with Lyon.

The 21-year-old, who Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is said to have been close to signing last summer, also declared he would happily join Inter Milan or Real Madrid.

But the £22million ($A33.9 million)-rated France star suggested a team managed by one of his compatriots would have an advantage.

He told Canal+: "Inter, Arsenal, Real... I will take the fun everywhere!

"These are great clubs. If the coach calls you and tells you he wants you to make you play, especially a French coach, it changes everything.

"The important thing for me is getting playing time for the France team."

M'Vila has three years remaining on his Rennes contract but manager Frederic Antonetti has already admitted the player was likely to leave this summer.

"Yann M'Vila won't be a Rennes player next season," he told Radio Monte Carlo last month.

M'Vila could join Lukas Podolski at Arsenal, with the striker understood to have agreed the formalities of an £11million ($A16.9 million) move from Cologne.

Former Gunner and ex-Germany team-mate Jens Lehmann warned Podolski the pace of the Barclays Premier League would be a culture shock.

Lehmann told Bild: "He is quick, dangerous in front of the goal, and has a good pass. I'm happy for him if he soon joins Arsenal.

"It won't be easy, though. He will have to get used to the pace, and he will have to realise that participating is not enough.

"You must win. Expectations are very high."

Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Adel Taarabt had fired the host into the lead on 22 minutes with his first Premier League goal, but Arsenal levelled through Theo Walcott.

QPR, though, snatched what could prove a priceless victory when Samba Diakite crashed in midway through the second half, but it remains in the bottom three after Bolton Wanderers won at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

QPR captain Joey Barton had used his pre-match programme notes to call for the fans to get behind him after being booed off the pitch while being substituted during the win over Liverpool 10 days ago.

However, the controversial midfielder received a mixed reception when his name was read out ahead of kick-off.

Walcott made early progress down the right channel, forcing a corner which was eventually hacked clear.

Arsenal continued to press without stretching the home side.

On seven minutes, Clint Hill bundled Walcott over to concede a free-kick just right of centre, 25 yards out.

Robin van Persie struck a low, curled effort goalwards, which Paddy Kenny gathered at the second attempt, with Walcott looking to pounce on the loose ball.

QPR was soon on the offensive, with Alex Song needing to make a couple of important blocks as Bobby Zamora threatened.

The home side continued to push Arsenal back, and Zamora sent a free header over from 10 yards after a deep free-kick into the area.

The host had the lead on 22 minutes.

Taarabt collected a pass from the halfway line, before turning Thomas Vermaelen on the edge of the penalty area and dispatching the ball into the bottom corner.

Moroccan Taarabt marked his first Premier League goal by donning a fez that he then threw into the crowd, but referee Mike Dean took a dim view of his actions and brandished a yellow card.

Arsenal needed to regroup, but had been in this situation more than once recently and recovered to secure victory.

QPR, however, remained full of energy, with Taarabt enjoying plenty of the ball.

Arsenal was level on 37 minutes with its first real chance.

Van Persie made space on the edge of the area and stabbed the ball to Walcott.

The England winger cracked a first-time effort off the base of the far post, and was quickest to the rebound, hooking in his seventh Premier League goal of the season.

Arsenal now passed the ball around with confidence, Aaron Ramsey dragging a low shot from 20 yards across goal and wide.

The visitor pressed again at the start of the second half, as Bacary Sagna floated over a deep cross from the right which fellow fullback Kieran Gibbs nodded just wide.

QPR was now finding it difficult to retain much possession, and then gave the ball away when looking to build a break.

On 57 minutes, Kenny punched away an angled free-kick from Van Persie.

The Dutchman was denied again by the QPR keeper after spinning off his marker and racing into the penalty area.

QPR went ahead for the second time on 66 minutes.

Vermaelen slipped again, allowing Jamie Mackie to skip into the penalty and he pulled the ball back for Diakite to slam home.

Arsenal needed another response and on 69 minutes, Gervinho replaced Ramsey.

QPR soaked up plenty of pressure, but also looked dangerous on the break as Arsenal committed men forwards.

With 10 minutes left, Mikel Arteta was replaced by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Marouane Chamakh came on for Gibbs.

Barton almost sealed it when his effort was tipped over by Wojciech Szczesny after another break by Mackie down the right.

The late Arsenal fightback never materialised as QPR closed out four minutes of stoppage-time to boost its hopes of staying up.

UEFA said its disciplinary panel found Wenger guilty of improper conduct and fined him 40,000 euros ($51,000).

The French coach will serve his third UEFA ban within a year if Arsenal qualifies to play in next season's Champions League or Europa League.

He can challenge the verdict at UEFA's appeals panel within three days of receiving the detailed verdict.

Wenger criticised Slovenian referee Damir Skomina after Arsenal were ousted by AC Milan in the last-16 round, despite a 3-0 second-leg victory. The London club had lost 4-0 in its away game in Italy.

Last year, Wenger was found guilty of a similar UEFA charge after Arsenal was knocked out by Barcelona at the same stage of the Champions League.

Then, he argued angrily with Swiss referee Massimo Busacca, who had sent off Robin van Persie during a 3-1 defeat in Spain.

Wenger served his ban during this season's playoff round first-leg match against Udinese, but incurred a further ban for breaking rules by communicating with Arsenal's coaches from his seat in the stand.

Wenger faced a charge of improper conduct relating to the Gunners' UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg tie against AC Milan at the Emirates Stadium on March 6.

The Arsenal manager confronted referee Damir Skomina after the 3-0 win, which meant a 4-3 aggregate defeat, taking issue with the Slovenian official on the pitch after the final whistle and criticising him in his post-match comments, claiming there were too many free-kicks awarded to the Italians.

It is the third time in the space of a year that Wenger has been given a touchline ban by UEFA.

Arsenal has three days in which to lodge an appeal and speaking just before the news of the sanction was official as he prepared for the Barclays Premier League trip to Queens Park Rangers, Wenger confirmed his intentions.

He said: "If I am [suspended] then it is not justified and I will appeal straight away.

"I believe that they have transformed UEFA competition referees to be untouchable icons, where you cannot even have a word.

"The only thing they understand after the game is the report.

"I believe that when you have 25 years consecutively in Europe you can still ask the referee that you can have some discussion with him. It is very difficult to understand."

UEFA had handed Wenger a one-match touchline ban for an on-field rant at Massimo Busacca after his team's last 16 exit to Barcelona this time last year.

The Arsenal boss was fuming at the Swiss referee's decision to send off Robin van Persie.

Wenger was then handed a further two-match touchline suspension in August for violating his Barcelona ban by communicating with the Arsenal bench from the stands during the Gunners' play-off tie against Udinese earlier this season.

The Gunners boss added: "Last year I have been suspended a second time - the first time was not justified, the second time was a joke because they told me what to do and afterwards they told me 'no, sorry, that was wrong'.

"So at the moment I have difficulties with UEFA and I can take what is wrong on my side, but in these different situations I think they go a little bit overboard if they suspend me."

The Gunners head into their final eight Premier League matches having rediscovered their form and put together seven straight wins which have lifted them above Tottenham into third place.

While captain Robin van Persie has enjoyed a largely injury-free campaign to score 33 goals, manager Arsene Wenger has not been able to call upon England midfielder Jack Wilshere all season because of a niggling ankle problem, while several other key men, including defenders Thomas Vermaelen and Bacary Sagna, have all spent a frustrating time in the London Colney treatment room.

Arteta, who has started 25 Premier League games, feels with everyone firing on all cylinders, Arsenal would be more than a match for any side.

"We have been hit with important, long-term injuries the whole season that really, really affect the team," Arteta told Sport Magazine.

"I would like to see this team playing with the same XI for 10-15 games - then we could talk about if we were good enough or not.

"Now we are starting to do it and we are starting to get really good results, so for me the biggest concern is to stop the injuries."

Arsenal is understood to have now agreed the formalities of an £11million ($16.8 million) deal to bring in Germany striker Lukas Podolski from Cologne, but a public announcement has been delayed at the request of the Bundesliga club, who is fighting against relegation.

Wenger is expected to further bolster the playing staff over the northern summer, but Arteta feels Arsenal already has enough within the group, if players could only all stay fit.

The Spaniard, 30, added: "Obviously if you spend a lot of money to bring in top players you have a better chance because you have a bigger squad and you can change the team around but, for me, a key thing with our squad is the injuries."

Arsenal is hopeful centre-half Laurent Koscielny will be available at QPR for Saturday (Sunday 01:00 AET) having pulled out of the Aston Villa game last weekend during the warm-up with a knee problem.

With his side's lead over Spurs only three points, Wenger accepts there can be little room for complacency.

"This is the period where what we do matters the most, so we just want to keep our focus on this and not worry about anybody else's results," the Arsenal manager said.

"We have shown both footballing and mental qualities in recent weeks and now we need to continue our development."

Wenger, meanwhile, could be handed a European touchline ban should UEFA announce the decision to its disciplinary case after a confrontation with referee Damir Skomina in the wake of Arsenal's UEFA Champions League exit against AC Milan last month, which came despite a 3-0 win at Emirates Stadium.

The London giant heads into its final eight English Premier League matches having rediscovered form to put together seven straight wins which has lifted the club above Tottenham into third place.

However, with a trip to relegation battler Queens Park Rangers on Saturday (Sunday AEDT) to come and with only a three-point lead over Tottenham, which has not won for five league games, Wenger accepts there can be little room for complacency.

"This is the period where what we do matters the most, so we just want to keep our focus on this and not worry about anybody else's results," the Arsenal manager said.

"We have shown both footballing and mental qualities in recent weeks and now we need to continue our development."

It is certainly a turnaround in fortunes for Arsenal, which crashed out of the FA Cup at Sunderland just days after being humiliated 4-0 by AC Milan in the first leg of its Champions League last-16 clash in mid-February.

After recovering in the Premier League following a run of three straight defeats in January, Wenger knows there is now little margin for further error if it is to go on and guarantee Champions League football again next season with a third-placed finish.

"We are now at the stage of the season where every day in the Premier League seems to have turning points," he said.

"What is most important from now onwards is our consistency and momentum."

Arsenal is hopeful centre-back Laurent Koscielny will be available at Loftus Road having pulled out of the Aston Villa game last weekend during the warm-up with a knee problem.

Full-back Andre Santos made his return to action after more than three months sidelined because of a broken foot when he came on during the 3-0 win over Villa.

The 29-year-old Brazilian, who joined from Fenerbahce last August, feels at home with the Gunners.

"The Premier League is something different - it's the best league in the world. It's hard to play in, the pace is different, the fact that almost every pitch is wet makes the ball run more, the tackles are harder, and it's just really good," he said.

"I have totally adapted. I feel very well, people here have received me with open arms, and I mean everyone, the club, the staff and the fans.

"Now all I want is to make history with this club."

Santos revealed he had been inspired by the messages of support during his time on the sidelines, after being injured in the Champions League group game away to Olympiacos.

He said: "All of that gave me the strength to carry on, and it all just contributes to my desire to work hard for this club and win titles in the red shirt."

Arsenal is understood to have now agreed the formalities of a deal to bring in German striker Lukas Podolski from Cologne, but a public announcement has been delayed at the request of the Bundesliga club, which is fighting against relegation.

Wenger, meanwhile, could be handed a European touchline ban should UEFA announce the decision to its disciplinary case following a confrontation with referee Damir Skomina in the wake of Arsenal's Champions League exit against AC Milan last month, which came despite a 3-0 win at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal stretched its Premier League winning streak to seven matches when it beat Aston Villa 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium.

The win, which came courtesy of strikes from Theo Walcott, Kieran Gibbs and Arteta, means the north London club is eight points ahead of fifth-place Chelsea and three points above local rival Tottenham Hotspur, which sits in fourth.

Arsenal has to play the Blues, and title-chasing Manchester City in its remaining eight games but it also has winnable fixtures against Queens Park Rangers, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Wigan Athletic and Norwich City.

Arteta has been delighted with the way in which his team has dragged itself back in to the top three after its erratic early-season form, but he also knows that any complacency that creeps in to its play could prove costly.

"If anyone thinks it's all done now, then they are making a big mistake," Arteta told Arsenal Player.

"We can't take our foot off the pedal now.

"We have won seven in a row now, which is very difficult in the Premier League nowadays, and we have done it well, playing some high-tempo football, but there are some tough, tough games coming up in our last eight matches."

Arsenal looked as if it would be nowhere near the top of the table at the start of the season when it won one of its opening five league games and another bad patch at the turn of the year left some questioning whether Arsene Wenger was still the right man to lead the club forward.

The Gunners squad are now brimming with confidence after their recent displays, however, and Arteta is happy that the Arsenal support have something to cheer about after the club's woes.

"When you are winning, life is good and you can see that the fans are enjoying it at the moment. They deserve it as well because they were behind us when things weren't going right," he said.

"Hopefully we can finish the season strongly because we have a group of players and staff who really mean business."

Former Everton star Arteta insists Arsenal has always maintained a strong team spirit throughout its season, even when it was at its lowest ebb.

"To be honest I was really surprised with the spirit when I came here - even when we were down it was so good," the midfielder said.

"It is something you rely on because if you start blaming each other and shouting at each other it is not good.

"This group has always been positive, the manager has always been positive with the players and we have kept at it. We have the talent, we know we have the ability to win games and sometimes it is just about the balance in confidence. We have it all together now."

Arsenal will look to maintain its grip on third place when it takes on struggler QPR at Loftus Road this weekend.

It received a boost with the news that defender Laurent Koscielny is likely to figure in the London derby despite having to pull out of his side's win against Villa in the warm-up.

"It was tendonitis," Wenger said.

"I don't think it's very bad. He woke up with big pain. We tried to push him to play but in the warm up he couldn't move.

"For the next game he should be all right."

Saturday saw Spurs take a huge step to regaining Champions League football when they drew 0-0 at Chelsea, a result that kept it five points clear of its fifth-placed opponents.

But it was also a fifth league match without a win for Harry Redknapp's men and saw them slip three points behind third-placed Arsenal.

Having threatened to open up a 13-point lead over their arch rivals a month ago, there has been claims Tottenham are buckling under the kind of pressure the Gunners and Chelsea have long been used to.

Asked if that was the case, Parker said: "No, not really.

"It's like anything in general life. You need to stay positive.

"We all knew we were on a bad run but we need to keep believing in what we are doing and hopefully it will turn."

He added: "At some point in the season, you are going to go through a bit of a bad patch it's just about how quickly you can come out of it."

Saturday's performance suggested Spurs were destined to do just that ahead of what appears to be an easier final eight matches than its rivals.

Parker said: "Our aim has always been top four and that is not going to change. We need to keep winning games.

"It's about results now. It's not about playing well.

"When you get to the nitty gritty at the end of the season, like it is now, you need to keep trying to get points on the board.

"With Chelsea being in fifth, we know we needed to keep getting points."

Tottenham has not finished above Chelsea since 1996 but Parker believes his side is finally a match for its London rivals.

He said: "We have got a good team and any team we have played against, any of the top teams, we have showed our quality and class."

Spurs had long looked certain to be top dogs in London for the first time since 1995 but a dramatic reversal of fortune in the last month has seen it overtaken by Arsenal.

Redknapp scoffed at suggestions catching Arsene Wenger's men may be beyond his side, saying: "I still think we'll finish above Arsenal - bring it on, Arsene!"

The Gunners made it seven straight league wins to capitalise on Tottenham Hotspur's goalless draw at Chelsea with first-half goals from Kieran Gibbs and Theo Walcott.

Villa regrouped after the break, but rarely threatened, before Mikel Arteta cracked in a fine free-kick in stoppage-time as Arsenal coasted to victory.

Wenger said: "I felt it was a very dynamic, fluent performance in the first half with top technical quality.

"It was a controlled performance in the second half, but our fatigue came in a bit because we gave a lot at Everton on Wednesday night.

"We have consistency at the moment, so let's go home and wait for the next game."

Arsenal has now increased its lead over Spurs to three points, with fifth-placed Chelsea now eight behind in the race for guaranteed UEFA Champions League football next season.

Wenger, though, is not taking anything for granted.

"At the time [we were 17th] I agree it was a dream to be in third, but what you do is you come in and do your job as well as you can, stay positive and work hard. I was optimistic because the attitude of the players was positive every day.

"We have gone through difficult times, we have learned that nothing is guaranteed and we must keep humility and focus to finish the season in a strong, convincing way."

Wenger added: "In the past month it has turned our way so we have to make sure we keep the momentum. We look to be a team on the up so that is positive.

"We look at the next game and try to win it - that's all we can do."

Walcott's goal on 25 minutes was perfectly executed, the England winger collecting a chipped pass from Alex Song before slotting the ball past Shay Given.

The Cameroon international supplied a similar cross for captain Robin van Persie to net a last-gasp winner at Liverpool.

Wenger said: "I would like to give credit to the pass from Song, because it is not the first time he has done that.

"You do not see many defensive midfielders [do that]. If you look at the assists that he has made this season, you will see that his numbers are top in Europe."

Arsenal had made just one change from the team which won at Everton in midweek, with Gervinho replacing Aaron Ramsey, but was forced into another before kick-off when centre-half Laurent Koscielny could not overcome a knee problem in the warm-up, so Johan Djourou was drafted into the backline.

"He tried in the warm-up, but could not play," Wenger said.

"He came to see me and said he was not sure that he could play with that pain.

"Straight away after the first run he said he could not even move. How bad it is we have to assess that."

Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish felt the early goals his side gave away were 'pretty lamentable'.

He said: "From our point of view, it was very weak defending.

"At 2-0 down in the second half, we said if we could get a goal back then we could have made Arsenal nervous and we did have a couple of chances.

"But we have to be realistic if people thought we would come here and win."

Villa has an eight-point cushion ahead of the relegation zone, but its next two fixtures are at home to Chelsea and then away at Liverpool.

McLeish said: "There are a few teams who have less points than us, but we need to get ourselves a bit further up the table.

"We have a game next week and have to be positive.

"We have got to concentrate on the glass being half full rather than half empty."

The Gunners made it seven straight league wins to make the most of Tottenham Hotspur's goalless draw at Chelsea with first-half goals from Kieran Gibbs and Theo Walcott.

Villa rarely threatened with Mikel Arteta cracking in a fine free-kick in stoppage-time as Arsenal coasted to victory, putting it three points ahead of Spurs, with fifth-placed Chelsea now eight behind in the race for guaranteed UEFA Champions League football next season.

Arsenal had made just one change from the team which won at Everton in midweek, with Gervinho replacing Aaron Ramsey, but was forced into another when centre-half Laurent Koscielny suffered what was thought to be a knee injury in the warm-up so Johan Djourou came in.

Before kick-off, there was applause as a banner of former Arsenal midfielder Fabrice Muamba was passed among supporters, the Bolton Wanderers player now making good progress after his cardiac arrest last weekend.

There was an early stoppage when Djourou went down after a stray elbow from former England striker Emile Heskey, preferred to Austrian Andreas Weimann - who scored a stoppage-time winner against Fulham last time out.

The Swiss international needed treatment for a bloody nose, but there was no action taken by Phil Dowd - much to the annoyance of Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.

It was Villa which created the first opening when Marc Albrighton charged down the right and into the Arsenal penalty area, only to stumble and fire the ball over the bar.

Arsenal was soon on the offensive, with Walcott's shot blocked before right-back Bacary Sagna blasted the loose ball wide.

The Gunners took the lead through an unlikely source after 16 minutes.

Gervinho fed Gibbs into the left side of the Villa box, and the defender's low, angled drive squirmed under Shay Given's arm for the England international's first Premier League goal.

Arsenal maintained momentum, and after 25 minutes, Walcott dispatched a magnificent effort to double Arsenal's lead.

Alex Song's chipped pass into the Villa box was taken in his stride on the run by the England winger, whose next touch was to calmly stroke the ball into the bottom corner.

The Gunners were rampant now, with Arteta's fierce drive from 20 yards being tipped over by Given.

When Villa did get some respite on the break, the delivery into the Arsenal penalty area was poor.

Stephen Warnock denied Gunners skipper Robin van Persie with a desperate flying header on the line after more slick build-up from the host.

Villa had to come out positive for the second half, which then left gaps as Arsenal looked to capitalise on the counter-attack.

Arsenal was awarded a free-kick yards out after substitute Gary Gardner tugged back Tomas Rosicky. Arteta struck his effort into the wall.

On the hour, a quick thrown out by Wojciech Szczesny sent Czech midfielder Rosicky away, who fed Gervinho down the left, but his cutback from the byline flew across the six-yard box.

Rosicky was central to the action now, with Given beating away his 25-yard drive.

After 65 minutes, Heskey was replaced by Weimann.

Arsenal soon made a double change as Ramsey and fullback Andre Santos came on for Gervinho and Gibbs.

The Brazilian's first contribution on his return to action from a broken ankle was to give the ball away to Weimann, but the Austrian lost composure in the Arsenal box and fluffed his big chance, stabbing across goal and wide.

Arsenal was screaming for a penalty when substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scampered away down the right and went down under a sliding challenge from Stephen Ireland, but referee Dowd correctly ruled the midfielder had just got the ball first.

The crowd were on their feet again in stoppage-time when Arteta cracked home a 25-yard free-kick to round off a fine afternoon's work from Wenger's reborn side.

A stress fracture to his right ankle has prevented Wilshere from playing this season but Wenger revealed that he may return to action in five weeks.

If the final stages of his rehabilitation go well, he could participate in Arsenal's last three Premier League outings against Stoke, Norwich and West Brom.

That would enable him to travel with England to Poland and Ukraine, although Wenger would object if he deemed it to be risky for the 20-year-old.

"Wilshere going to the Euros is a decision that fortunately I don't have to make," the Frenchman said.

"I would only intervene if I believe that medically he's at risk.

"As an English player, if he's played some games before the end of the season, it's a possibility.

"If he has not played at all before the end of the season, I don't think it would be realistic.

"The next three weeks will decide what happens. We'll see how well he progresses. We've taken a very cautious approach with him.

"We'll not force him into training with any pain, so it might have to be slower than expected.

"In three weeks he can be back with the squad - if all goes well - and then another two weeks to get fully fit.

"We don't have to hold him back at the moment because he suffers a lot for fitness. After three weeks we'll have to hold him back

"I think he will play this season if he has no setback now. His last scan was positive so he should play."

Wenger is adamant that he does not want Wilshere representing Great Britain at the Olympics.

"The Olympics destroys the start of the season for us. If he could play, we'd rather he went to the Euros than the Olympics," he said.

Wenger denied that Germany striker Lukas Podolski is close to joining the Gunners in an £11 million ($16.68 million) deal having undergone a medical.

But the Arsenal boss admitted he is ready to scour the transfer market in his quest for high-quality additions to the squad.

"Quantity-wise we will not do a lot. Quality-wise certainly, and we will take a gamble if we find top, top quality of course," he said.

"The number of the squad is 25. We have many players out on loan and we have not had Jack Wilshere or Abou Diaby for the whole season.

"These players will be back and that means number and quality wise we are strong because we are now in the position we are in without these players."

Wenger shed little light on the timing of Podolski's arrival and stressed he would like to avoid the final-day flurry of activity that marked Arsenal's transfer business last northern summer.

"Nothing is done. It could happen soon, it could happen later, I don't know," he said.

"Last year was terrible for us because we finished on the 31st August at 11.55pm and we do not want to repeat that."

Wenger spoke at length on Fabrice Muamba, Bolton Wanderers' former Arsenal midfielder who is making a remarkable recover from the cardiac arrest he suffered last weekend.

Muamba was sold to Birmingham City in 2007 after spending two seasons at the Emirates Stadium and Wenger insisted the 23-year-old midfielder always possessed a fighting spirit.

"Over the years we have stayed in touch with Fabrice. Against us, he was always very keen to prove that we made a mistake in letting him go.

"He was always outstanding against us and I hope he will do that again soon.

"Hopefully one day we will have the joy to see him on the football pitch again.

"It was obvious he was a fighter. Technically he was behind when he arrived here.

"But when you looked at him, you would think 'oh, there is something to work on here' and that was his huge determination and desire.

"I let him go for two reasons. The first one is that he had big players in front of him and it was very difficult to take them out and put Fabrice in at the time.

"And the second reason is that he is so highly motivated that I felt he was ready to play and needed to play.

"There always comes a moment in the career of a player that you play him now or you let him go.

"I let him go for his benefit. He understood that very well."

Arsenal is seeking its seventh successive Premier League win when it hosts Aston Villa this weekend.

It supplanted Tottenham Hotspur in third place with its 1-0 victory over Everton in midweek and Wenger believes the battle for UEFA Champions League football is intensifying.

"Third is better than fourth, but if you have no choice, you take fourth and the opportunity. Let's see how it goes now," he said.

"I believe Newcastle are still in the fight, as are Tottenham and Chelsea. Liverpool are maybe too far off, but you never know."

Arsenal kept its second clean sheet in three games in the 1-0 Premier League win at Everton and has let in only four goals in its ast five matches in all competitions, all of which have been victories.

After the battling triumph at Goodison Park, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger praised his players' defensive resilience, which has been aided by having a consistent back four in recent weeks of Bacary Sagna, Kieran Gibbs, Thomas Vermaelen and French centre-half Koscielny.

The 26-year-old echoed his manager's sentiments about the display against the Toffees, although he also stressed that it has been the whole side that has contributed to breaking down attacks - just like when it launches them.

"It's not just the four defenders, it's all the team," Koscielny told Arsenal Player.

"Robin (van Persie) made a lot of effort to help us, so it's all the team who defend and attack, and (against Everton) we did the job very well.

"We need to carry that into the next game against Aston Villa at home (on Saturday)."

Arsenal dug in for the three points against Everton after Vermaelen headed in Van Persie's corner in the eighth minute.

The win saw it move up to third in the table, leapfrogging north London rival Tottenham, who it is now ahead of by a point.

Not long ago, Spurs appeared dead set to secure third place at the very least while the Gunners, lagging behind the top four, looked outside bets for a UEFA Champions League berth.

However, the form of both sides has changed markedly of late, with Tottenham failing to win any of its last four league matches and Arsenal claiming six top-flight victories in a row.

Wenger's men now seem well on course for the Champions League - it is six points clear of fifth-placed Chelsea - and have the momentum in the race for third, which guarantees automatic qualification for the group stage.

Arsenal's sixth consecutive top-flight victory saw it leapfrog Tottenham, who drew 1-1 with Stoke on Thursday morning (AEDT).

A top-four finish seemed a tall order for Wenger's men at the start of February, yet they are now a point clear of their north London rivals and six ahead of fifth-placed Chelsea – defeated 2-1 at Manchester City – with nine games left to play.

It looks good for a Champions League berth but manager Wenger is taking nothing for granted and has warned against complacency.

"We want to keep going and we must not think now that the most difficult thing is done," the Frenchman said.

"Probably the most difficult thing still remains to do, and to achieve it it is important we keep humility, focus and fight for each other – that is what we had to do here [against Everton]."

Wenger was delighted with the battling qualities his team showed at Goodison Park.

The Gunners began the game looking potent going forward and were in front inside the opening eight minutes when Thomas Vermaelen headed in Robin van Persie's corner.

Everton came back into the game and the Toffees had what appeared to be a legitimate goal chalked off in the 31st minute when the flag was raised for offside against Royston Drenthe.

The hosts continued to press after the break, but Arsenal held out for the three points and Wenger said: "We were resilient, focused and showed a great desire to defend – our defence played very well.

"You have seen a side of us that normally people don't know, but it was the only way to get the result I felt, and it was good to know we can do that as well."

Everton boss David Moyes was enraged by the decision to rule out Drenthe's effort, with replays indicating the Dutchman had indeed been onside when the through-ball was played to him to tee up his strike.

Wenger admitted afterwards that his side had been fortunate on that occasion, while Moyes expressed his belief that it had been one of several unjust calls to go against the Toffees.

"Apart from the first 20 minutes, I think we played as well as Arsenal and were really unlucky not to take something from the game," said Moyes, whose team stays 10th.

"There are five decisions that [should have been given as] onside.

"There are five, I have checked, and that was a goal.

"In the last few games we have had really poor decisions against us."

The Gunners head to Goodison Park on the back of five straight Premier League wins which have catapulted them up into the top four.

Arsenal has come from behind in four of those games, the latest with a dramatic stoppage-time winner from Thomas Vermaelen to beat Newcastle United 2-1 at Emirates Stadium.

Wenger admits he would rather enjoy a comfortable win, but will take another crucial three points any way they come.

"Every time we were behind and every time we have shown outstanding spirit. It is not fantastic for your emotions, but overall when it finishes well you accept to suffer," Wenger told Arsenal Player.

"If that is the price we have to pay we are ready, but you just want to continue with the same attitude because I don't believe in luck too much on that side of the game.

"If you come back it is because you fight and if you fight you have a chance to come back. So let's fight first."

Wenger continued: "We are in a good, positive momentum. Now it is focusing on the next run to keep that going.

"That means playing with the quality we have played with recently and as well with the team attitude and spirit we have shown.

"I am sure that will get us the result."

Should results go its way this week, Arsenal could find itself in third place ahead of the next round of fixtures, which see rival Tottenham Hotspur travel to Chelsea.

Wenger accepts there is little margin for error in the battle for UEFA Champions League qualification.

"It is so fragile that it is just down to the next performance. Therefore that is what you want to focus on," he said.

"We had a little bit of a breather because we could come out of the Newcastle game and not play for nine days basically so it is important for us to focus again and keep the momentum going."

Wenger added: "It is a key time. The fixtures are difficult for Arsenal, for Chelsea, for Tottenham.

"It will be about who does the best and who does the best will be the team who focuses on the next game, on the next result and on the next quality of the game.

"That is what we want to do of course, just focus on our next game and try to do as well as we can."

Everton has beaten Manchester City, Chelsea and Spurs at Goodison Park this year.

Wenger has been impressed by David Moyes' side.

He said: "They are a team who, when you look at the numbers, do not score many and do not concede many.

"They are dangerous on crosses, and they are a team that always has a good technical level overall.

"Everton are resilient, they keep going, they have a manager with experience and competence. Overall you can say they are one of the consistent teams in the Premier League.

"Nobody goes to Everton and thinks 'okay, it will be all right', everybody expects a tough opponent and that is what we will get."

Midfielder Mikel Arteta will return to Goodison for the first time since his northern summer transfer.

Wenger has been impressed by the way the Spanish midfielder has adapted quickly to a new club.

"He always gives you a certain level of quality, is always 100 percent focused and committed, that is what you want from a real professional, and also he brings the best out of other players." Wenger said.

The 23-year-old is currently recovering at the London Chest Hospital, where his condition is now described as 'comfortable' in intensive care.

The news is far more positive after the Bolton midfielder's heart stopped for two hours after his collapse during the first half of the FA Cup quarter-final at White Hart Lane.

Muamba joined Arsenal as a schoolboy after moving to England aged 11 from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and went on to play in the first team before joining Birmingham City in May 2007 after a loan spell.

Premier League chairman Richard Scudamore has promised a review into medical procedures at football grounds, but Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini does not believe what is currently in place is good enough, demanding twice-yearly medical screenings.

Wenger believes clubs do what they can to make sure any underlying health problems are brought to light.

"He had regular screens everywhere; here, at Birmingham and at Bolton as well," Wenger told Arsenal Player.

"I am not a specialist enough in medicine to say 'is the screening enough for the kind of problem that he had?'

"It raises a few questions, but you need to be better informed on what happened to him to see if the players need deeper analysis of heart problems.

"You can always learn something out of these situations and that is maybe what we can learn out of it."

Wenger continued: "It is too early to ask whether it is a lack of control, does football need to go in deeper with research or deeper in control with heart problems to stop these kind of situations.

"If it is preventable - at the moment nobody has given us any answer, but that is what you are waiting for. Our medical team tell me that there is constant ongoing research in this area and that it must continue."

Some of the current Arsenal squad remain good friends with Muamba.

Wenger added: "He is a loved guy. Because we have a young team, many of them grew up with Fabrice and there was a strong link when you fight together in the youth teams because it creates a special bond.

"The players were quite low yesterday and two days ago, but today it is a bit better because we have good news about him."

Szczesny has sought to step up the psychological warfare between his team and its bitter London rival in the last fortnight as the battle for UEFA Champions League qualification intensifies.

Arsenal was on the brink of slipping 13 points behind third-placed Spurs earlier this month, but it now stands just one point behind its neighbour after both teams went on contrasting runs.

The 21-year-old Pole had a dig at Tottenham after the Gunners' 3-0 win over AC Milan, claiming Redknapp's team could end up playing UEFA Europa League football next year - something he said would give him great pleasure.

He then rounded on Chelsea, who trail Spurs by four points, claiming the reason why Blues owner Roman Abramovich has sacked so many managers is because a group of senior players practically run the west London club.

His outspoken attacks may have made him a cult hero among Arsenal fans, but Redknapp is not impressed.

"Szczesny says he is coming to get Tottenham? Oh yeah, yeah, he does have a lot to say Szczesny, doesn't he?" Redknapp said.

"I'm a big fan of his, he is a fantastic goalkeeper and he could end up being one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League but he does come out with some stuff doesn't he? He was having a go at Chelsea the other day and god knows what (else)...

"He is a fantastic goalie, but he should just keep doing what he does."

The sniping between rival clubs is, of course, a key reason why the Premier League is seen as one of, if not the best, domestic competitions in the world, and Szczesny's verbal salvo is unlikely to be the last between the two clubs this season.

But Redknapp is not a big fan of players attacking other clubs through the media.

"I don't like it," he said. "There is no need for it. Just get on with it, just get on playing.

"You weren't allowed to speak to the Press when I was playing. If you got caught you got a fine of a week's wages, which was about £7."

Redknapp is not worried that Szczesny's words, or those of Theo Walcott and Thomas Vermaelen, who have recently claimed Spurs will feel threatened by Arsenal's resurgence, will have any effect on his players.

"I don't think they read the papers," Redknapp said.

The Spurs boss himself has complete confidence his team will be playing Champions League football next season despite suffering recent successive defeats to Arsenal, Manchester United and Everton.

When asked whether his team had been rattled by Arsenal's form, the 65-year-old said: "No. Not at all. They have been on a good run and I always felt they were capable of that.

"They have some good players but it has gone their way recently.

"Liverpool absolutely smashed them but they won. That's how it goes sometimes.

"Chelsea look good and we have had a couple of results that haven't gone our way but our performances have been excellent.

"If we were playing badly you would start to worry but we haven't."

Redknapp knows his chances of continuing to develop Spurs, if he decides to rebuff England's probable approach this northern summer, will depend to a large extent on whether Tottenham are in the Champions League.

The Tottenham manager has identified Lille midfielder Eden Hazard as a player he wants to sign to ensure his team's progression and is confident that he will get his man.

"He is a really good talent," Redknapp added.

"If you want to be a top four team you have to (go for players like Hazard) otherwise you can't expect to be a top team.

"If you want to compete with Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and two Manchester clubs, you have to buy top players.

"I think the club would do it if we come up with the right targets."

Redknapp turns his attention to the FA Cup on Sunday morning (AEDT), where Spurs can secure a Wembley semi-final with a win over Bolton.

The Tottenham manager lifted the trophy with Portsmouth in 2008 and would love to win the competition again.

He said: "It's a great tournament and we want to go all the way to Wembley now and win it."

Gunners midfielder Arteta ended six-and-a-half years as a Toffees player this season when he submitted a transfer request an hour before the August window closed.

The lateness of the move prevented Everton from reinvesting the £10 million ($15 million) it got for its star player until the turn of the year, something that may not have gone down well with some supporters.

But Arteta hopes they will forgive and forget next Wednesday evening (Thursday morning AEDT) and focus instead on all he gave to the club while there.

He said: "I really can't wait to go there, and I hope I'll get a good reception because I gave Everton everything I had in my time there and I love the club.

"Everyone there was great to me and, even though I left, hopefully people understood.

"There's no reason for any of us to be unhappy with each other."

Arteta, 29, is relishing running out at Goodison again, but admitted it would be strange to do so for a rival club.

"Visiting Everton next week will be really special for me," he told Arsenal's official website, www.arsenal.com

"It's going to be weird to sit in the other changing room, warming up in the opposite half of the pitch and having the crowd against us.

"I just want to enjoy it."

Next week's clash will see Arsenal try to make it six Premier League wins in a row as it closes in on third-placed Tottenham Hotspur.

Having been in danger of falling 13 points behind its arch-rival during last month's north London derby, a reversal of fortunes for both clubs have cut the gap between them to a single point.

Overhauling Spurs could be crucial in convincing star striker Robin van Persie to sign a new contract amid reports Manchester City would be prepared to make him the country's highest-paid player.

Gunners chairman Peter Hill-Wood has claimed Van Persie and his family are 'very happy in London' and that the Netherlands star is not 'solely motivated by money'.

Indeed, the key to avoiding Van Persie following Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri out of the club could be convincing him it is serious about signing reinforcements this northern summer.

Arsenal declined to comment on reports staff travelled to Germany to give prospective £10.9 million ($16.35 million) signing Lukas Podolski a medical.

The 26-year-old Cologne striker is said to be on the verge of signing for the Gunners and will hope to link up with Van Persie next season.

Arsenal has also been linked with £30 million ($45.01 million)-rated Borussia Dortmund attacker Mario Gotze.

Hill-Wood said he was prepared to pay anything but 'silly prices' for the 'right' players.

The 31-year-old Czech midfielder, who has enjoyed a resurgence in recent weeks, signed a new contract with the Gunners on Monday.

But he revealed he was tempted by the lucrative wages on offer elsewhere.

He told isport.blesk.cz: "In both cases, it was financially huge numbers, so that somehow you had to entertain it - it's not easy. Some days I thought about it, but money is not everything.

"I'm glad I'll be able to continue at Arsenal."

He added: "Arsenal let me get to the point where I had just half a year on my contract and could talk to anyone I wanted.

"It started to get interesting because I had very lucrative offers. This turned my head a little, but I have to say that Arsenal were my priority."

Rosicky denied his recent purple patch was anything to do with his contract saga.

He said: "I want to say that what was sometimes written, that I have played better because I'm fighting for a contract, had nothing to do with it.

"Although it is now signed, it was just a matter of preparing the paperwork.

"I had given my word to the coach that I would stay much earlier."

A simmering row between the two Dutchmen boiled over during the closing stages of the Magpies' 2-1 Premier League defeat at the Emirates Stadium on Monday night after Thomas Vermaelen snatched victory for the Gunners in the fifth minute of injury time.

Gutierrez told the Journal: "I think Van Persie was wrong. There was no need for him to do that - they have won the game, it is finished.

"I can't understand a person like that. I think it is not right. When you feel like that, it is because you are not a good person.

"I don't care about the football, I'm talking about the person. When you have people who do that, it's not right.

"We are all used to getting kicks, it's a sport of contact. But when you have things like that, it is not right. It is not easy to accept.

"He was the only Arsenal player who reacted like that. The others were saying to him, 'Calm down, calm down'. When you do that, the fans go crazy as well, so it's no good for the atmosphere of the sport.

"It didn't help the game - both sets of fans are having a good evening, they're enjoying the game.

"He made a big mistake. I say well done to Tim for staying calm. In a second, you can lose your mind, but we have to stay focused.

"I was pleased with Tim. You have to think of the next game and the rest of the season at that moment. It is no good to have a reaction and get a three-game ban or something like that."

Van Persie, who had earlier cancelled out Hatem Ben Arfa's opener with his 33rd goal of the season, clashed with goalkeeper Krul on several occasions as the home fans jeered him for what they believed was time-wasting with Newcastle looking likely to emerge from the game with a hard-earned point.

However, the feud escalated after Vermaelen's late strike as players from both sides became involved in an angry confrontation which delayed the restart.

The Gunners will take on Hong Kong champion Kitchee FC at the Hong Kong Stadium on Sunday, July 29.

The squad will travel to Hong Kong from China, where it will play Manchester City in Beijing two days earlier.

Chief executive Ivan Gazidis said: "It's great that Arsenal Football Club is visiting Hong Kong again after 17 years.

"We have many followers in Hong Kong and it's wonderful that these special fans will have an opportunity to see the first team live in action.

"The match will follow on from our visit to Beijing, where we play Manchester City in the Bird's Nest, and is another indication of Arsenal's commitment to Asia."

The Gunners looked set to blow their chance to move within one point of bitter rival Tottenham Hotspur when it wasted a number of chances to seal the win in the second half after Robin van Persie had equalised Hatem Ben Arfa's opener.

Van Persie, Tomas Rosicky and Gervinho were all guilty of wasting gilt-edged opportunities in the second half, but Thomas Vermaelen saved the home side's blushes by turning home Theo Walcott's cross in the 95th minute to seal a vital win.

It was the fourth Premier League game that Arsenal has come from behind to win, and the third time in the last few weeks that the Gunners have snatched victory in injury-time.

"It was an exceptional night because the pleasure is even more intense when you win in the final minute of the game when you have given everything," Arsenal manager Wenger said.

"We won in the last minute at Sunderland, Liverpool and now Newcastle. That shows we have absolute commitment.

"They are refusing to lose. That's fantastic.

"That shows that we have quality and spirit. It was a relentless effort tonight from the first to the last minute.

"The tempo was top level. We kept going until the last second and we managed to win the game.

"The fact that we did it before shows that we have a complete and total commitment to do everything we can and give absolutely everything."

Arsenal threw everything at the visitor in the second half and looked like having to settle for a draw until Vermaelen struck.

Rosicky and Walcott, who picked up the man-of-the-match award, performed well for the host, which is now one point behind Spurs.

Walcott thinks Arsenal's north London rival will be running scared of Wenger's team after this result.

"Tottenham have got to be watching over their shoulders now," Walcott told Sky Sports.

"With the squad of players we've got - and we've got a lot of players coming back to fitness now - we believe that we can go much further.

"It's been an up-and-down season, but it's the way you finish, and that's the most important thing."

Ben Arfa stunned the home crowd by putting Newcastle ahead in the 15th minute with a precise finish before Van Persie turned home Walcott's cross just 55 seconds later to equalise.

Newcastle was booed for time-wasting throughout - something which Van Persie appeared to taunt Tim Krul about after Arsenal had snatched the win.

The pair, international team-mates with the Netherlands, were both booked after squaring up to each other and Krul had to be restrained after the final whistle.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew said: "I don't really know what went on.

"When you get a last-minute goal things spill over and it all got a little bit silly."

Pardew, whose team has now failed to win its last four games, lamented his players' decision to go on the attack in injury-time, a move which left the Magpies open at the back for Vermaelen's dramatic winner.

"We are very disappointed because we had the ball in their corner in the 94th minute," he said.

"We had a few problems towards the end of the game - Cheick Tiote had cramp, Danny (Simpson) had an injury, and in the end he couldn't get back to end to stop the goal.

"When the board went up saying there were five extra minutes, I could see our weary bodies and I knew it was going to be a long five minutes.

"I thought we had just done enough but we hadn't."

The Gunners went behind to a precise finish from Hatem Ben Arfa in the first half but they were level 55 seconds later when Robin van Persie held off Mike Williamson's challenge to slot home Theo Walcott's cross.

Van Persie, Tomas Rosicky and Gervinho were all guilty of wasting good chances in the second half and the game looked beyond Arsenal, but Vermaelen popped up in the 95th minute to rifle home Walcott's cross from close range to snatch all three points.

The last-gasp win, Arsenal's fifth on the bounce, means the 10-point gap that once separated it from Spurs has now been reduced to one - and the Gunners all of a sudden seem well-placed to achieve the top-four finish that seemed way beyond them at the turn of the year.

Having stretched its unbeaten run to four games with an impressive hammering of AC Milan last week, it looked as if this game was set to be a stroll for the home side, and it started as such on a chilly night in north London.

Walcott found space on the touchline and whipped across a wicked pass, but Van Persie somehow failed to tap in from six yards.

Cheick Tiote was lucky to escape without a booking after sinking his studs in to Alex Song's ankle with a late challenge.

The Gunners were dominating but the home crowd were stunned in to silence in the 15th minute when the Magpies took the lead.

Vermaelen erroneously passed to Tiote and the ball found its way to the right flank, where Ben Arfa cut inside and fired a precise finish past Wojciech Szczesny.

The home crowd were on their feet less than a minute later, however, as Van Persie came to the rescue.

Walcott galloped down the right after being freed by Rosicky and he crossed for the Dutchman, who shrugged off Williamson's challenge before slotting home.

A scrappy period followed. Arsenal's build-up play was impressive but it was failing to test Tim Krul in the Newcastle goal.

Fabricio Coloccini did well to block Walcott's shot as the ball pinged around the Newcastle box in the dying minutes of the first half.

Newcastle brought on James Perch for Davide Santon, who had struggled to keep tabs on Walcott during the first half.

The England winger did not take long to slip past his new marker, however, as he got to the byline and curled over a lovely ball but Rosicky headed at Krul.

Coloccini threw himself in to the line of Mikel Arteta's shot to deny Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who moments later delivered a pin-point cross to Van Persie but the striker could only muster a weak shot at Krul.

Rosicky, who earlier in the day signed a contract extension, was in exquisite form, embarrassing Yohan Cabaye with a clever turn before finding Van Persie in the box, but he was again denied by Krul.

Rosicky then missed a glorious chance to put Arsenal ahead. He exchanged passes with Walcott, and found acres of space in the box but he mis-hit so badly that his shot went out for a throw.

Newcastle gifted Arsenal another chance to equalise 10 minutes from the end when Ben Arfa surrendered possession to Kieran Gibbs, who found Van Persie in the box but he fired well wide from a tight angle.

It seemed as if Arsenal was not going to find the way through as another chance to win the game escaped it.

Arteta's corner somehow evaded everyone in the box apart from Gervinho at the back post but he horribly miscued wide.

Krul came to Newcastle's rescue in the final minute, palming over a brilliant header from Vermaelen with an acrobatic save which looked to have saved the game.

Walcott drove a deflected shot over in injury-time, which he felt struck Coloccini's arm, but referee Howard Webb waved away his protests.

Arsene Wenger thought the game was over, sitting with his head in his hands, but Walcott's 95th-minute cross dropped in to Vermaelen's path and he finished from close range to send the home crowd in to ecstasy.

Disappointing scenes followed as Van Persie and Krul squared up in the aftermath of the goal. Both were booked and Krul had to be restrained after the final whistle.

The prosecution withdrew the case against him after he was charged with five counts of criminal damage with Sunderland captain Lee Cattermole.

The Danish star, on loan with Sunderland from Arsenal for a year, and who scored the only goal in the Black Cats' win over Liverpool on the weekend, was not at Newcastle Magistrates' Court for the hearing.

Cattermole was present, dressed in a grey suit and black shirt, and no pleas were entered to the five charges relating to £4,168.27 ($6204.69) of damage caused to cars on 6 December.

The cars were parked in Stowell Street in Newcastle's China Town - only a few hundred yards from Newcastle United's Sports Direct Arena.

The case was adjourned at the request of the prosecution.

Cattermole, 23, who gave his address as Aislaby near Yarm, Teesside, was granted unconditional bail until 2pm on 26 March when the case will be heard again.

The same court banned Bendtner from driving for 56 days last month after he was caught driving his Porsche 911 at 103mph.

He is a huge star in his native Denmark - a journalist flew in from Copenhagen to cover the hearing on Monday - and was engaged to Baroness Caroline Luel-Brockdorf, a wealthy member of the Danish royal family and the mother of his child.

They split soon after the birth of their son in December 2010.

The striker is currently playing in a mask after suffering a broken nose. It has been customised to include his initials, the '52' shirt number and the Danish flag.

Rosicky struggled to make an impact at the start of the season, but has put in a string of excellent performances of late, particularly in last week's 3-0 win over AC Milan - and he has been rewarded with a new contract.

The Czech's deal was set to expire this summer but he has now committed his future to the London club.

The 26-year-old is understood to be keen to join the Gunners in the summer, with suggestions an £11 million ($16 million) deal had already been agreed with Cologne.

The Poland-born forward would certainly add some experience to the Arsenal attack in support of 32-goal captain Robin van Persie, having played at the World Cup twice and also in two European Championships.

Wenger, though, maintained at the press conference ahead of Tuesday morning's (AEDT) Premier League clash against Newcastle, that the transfer was not yet a done deal.

"I have not a lot to say about that because if we sign a player we will inform you. At the moment we have not signed anybody. There is still no agreement.

"The distance to the agreement is not always linked with the signing. When you are very close you are quickly very far again, but Podolski is a good player, I wouldn't deny that."

When pressed on the possibility of completing a deal by visiting German media, Wenger suggested there could be some movement "in the next two or three weeks", adding: "anything is possible".

Van Persie has yet to agree a contract extension, which runs until the northern summer of 2013.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has fuelled speculation of another big-money raid on Emirates Stadium for the Netherlands striker, whom he hailed as "one of the best strikers in Europe".

Wenger insists such comments must be taken with a pinch of salt.

"If you are to have one quality it is not to be unsettled because what is said of you by other clubs is part of the job," the Arsenal boss said.

"What is important is how much you want to win the next game and all the rest is basically not important."

Wenger added: "Robin is the leader of our club and I would just like to specify that he is not at the end of his contract.

"He is under contract until 2013. So you do your job, focus on your job which he does very well and enjoy your games."

Brazil full-back Andre Santos could be in the squad on Monday, having recovered from the broken ankle which sidelined him since December.

Wenger is also hopeful of a positive prognosis for England midfielder Jack Wilshere, who has not played at all this season because of his ankle problem.

"The progress in training is very good but what you do not want is to have any setbacks," Wenger said.

"The setback could be a bad scan, but the clinical signs are all very good when you look at his ankle, it is not inflamed and it is normal progress now.

"But we are a bit over cautious with him now because of the setbacks we had before."

Wenger maintained he was "surprised" to have been charged with improper conduct by UEFA after confronting referee Damir Skomina following Arsenal's 3-0 win over AC Milan.

If the case is proved and Wenger is given a touchline ban, it will be the third time within the space of a year he has been given such a sanction by Europe's governing body.

With its UEFA Champions League hope now over following the 4-3 aggregate defeat, Arsenal will be out to continue its momentum, building from successive wins over third-placed Tottenham and at Liverpool.

"We want to finish as high as we can," Wenger said.

"It will be difficult because we know that we face a massive battle there with Tottenham, Chelsea, Newcastle and maybe Liverpool.

"We have created the momentum but we know until the end of the season that every game will be a massive one for us.

"What is at stake is to be in the top four, if possible in the top three, but it will be difficult for everybody."

Van Persie, 28, has yet to agree a contract extension, which runs until the summer of 2013.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has fuelled speculation of another big-money raid on Emirates Stadium for the Netherlands striker, whom he hailed as "one of the best strikers in Europe".

Over the past few years Wenger has seen Emmanuel Adebayor, Kolo Toure, Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri all join title rivals City in big-money moves.

Van Persie has netted 32 goals in a stand-out individual campaign and appears comfortable to wait until the end of the season before discussing future plans.

Wenger has already stated the club will "do anything possible" to retain the services of their talisman striker, and sees no reason to let City's public courtship of Van Persie unsettle either the player or his team.

"We will not lose anybody to Manchester City, or to anybody else because we want to keep our players," the Gunners boss said.

"We want to keep Robin Van Persie, that is clear, we will do everything possible to extend his contract, that is clear, and apart from that, I can only let people talk."

Wenger insists the club's focus must be on winning its English Premier League clash with Newcastle to stay in the top four.

"To fulfil his contract is to win against Newcastle and to add to that is to win the next game, that is being professional," the Arsenal boss said.

"You always want to know what happens in 2012 or 2013 then who knows? To be professional is to win your next game."

Arsenal reluctantly sold then captain Cesc Fabregas back to Barcelona last year, before eventually having to give up in the battle to keep Nasri, who was sold in a $36 million deal at the end of August.

Wenger admits it is a situation he does not want to repeat.

"Last year was the first time we lost the players young. That was a worrying sign and it provoked double trouble," he said.

"Firstly they went late and secondly we bought late when we were already in a very difficult situation."

"There is a wrong understanding about what happened. The club has been treated very badly because of that and I don't think the club was guilty of anything during that transfer period."

Wenger continued: "I was very adamant [Nasri would not be sold], but at the end of the day, it was a difficult situation to manage."

"We had the players and we felt after the tour, that Ramsey and Wilshere could work, also we could add somebody more."

"If a player didn't want to extend, where do we go from there? But we will see. We do our best to keep our best players."

Reports in Germany have suggested Arsenal is set to sign Lukas Podolski from Cologne for $16 million.

Wenger insisted no deal had yet been done for the Poland-born 26-year-old, who has played at two World Cups.

"He is a good football player above all. He can play for us because he can play central, he can play right and he can play on the left," Wenger said.

"He has 96 caps for Germany and is 26 years old which is the best age."

"He is available at a reasonable price if we can reach an agreement, but at the moment we are nowhere near."

"I don't want to disappoint people and let down their expectations."

"Let us first see what we can do."

The Gunners can focus all their attention on the league over the next two months, having been knocked out of the UEFA Champions League in midweek despite a gallant effort to overturn their 4-0 first-leg deficit against AC Milan.

Manager Arsene Wenger has lost a number of players for lengthy periods this term, but Gibbs reckons the north London side is coming good just at the right time and knows consistency is now key.

"I think you have to give credit to the players who played while the others were out," he said on www.arsenal.com.

"People don't realise that we basically had half a squad at one stage and the team was just down to its bare bones.

"But obviously now we have a bigger squad, we can rotate more, players won't be as tired and the team looks a lot stronger. You can obviously see the benefits from that.

"Everybody has come together now and we have overcome a difficult period. We need to be consistent like this now for the rest of the season."

Arsenal have found some domestic form since its Champions League humiliation at the San Siro, which was swiftly followed by an exit from the FA Cup at Sunderland.

However, despite morale-boosting wins over Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool, there remains little margin for error.

Indeed, the Gunners could be back down to fifth in the table should Chelsea beat Stoke City, while third-placed Spurs could extend their current four-point cushion with a positive result at Everton ahead of Arsenal's Monday night clash against Newcastle United.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has fuelled speculation of another big-money raid on Emirates Stadium for the Dutch striker, who has yet to sign a contract extension, hailing the Gunners skipper as "one of the best strikers in Europe".

Those public comments from a rival manager are not likely to have been well received by Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who over the past few years has seen Emmanuel Adebayor, Kolo Toure, Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri all join City for significant wage increases than on offer from the Gunners.

Van Persie, who has netted 32 goals in a stand-out individual campaign, insists he is comfortable to wait until the end of the season before sitting down with Arsenal to try to thrash out a new deal, with his current terms expiring in the northern summer of 2013.

Wenger has already publicly stated the club will "do anything possible" to retain the services of their talisman, who has grown into his role as captain following Cesc Fabregas' sale to Barcelona.

That is said to possibly include the offer of a big money 'loyalty' bonus as well as improved terms.

It goes without saying Arsenal's hand would be strengthened with another opportunity of Champions League football, with Wenger's side now fully focused on delivering a top-four finish having bowed out of Europe despite a 3-0 home win over AC Milan on Tuesday night (Wednesday AEDT).

In the post-match press conference, Wenger was asked about revelations from Gunners defender Per Mertesacker, currently recovering from an ankle injury, that he and German team-mate Podolski had been exchanging text messages over life at Arsenal.

Wenger laughed off the subject, quipping "you would like me to explain what I cannot explain", but it appears a deal has now been struck with Cologne.

Poland-born forward Podolski, 26, has played at two European Championships and World Cup tournaments, so would offer a much-needed option for Wenger alongside Van Persie, with Marouane Chamakh and Park Ju-young both failing to make an impact.

Arsenal has built up some momentum in the weeks since its Champions League first leg 4-0 humbling in Milan, which was swiftly followed by exit from the FA Cup at Sunderland.

However, despite morale-boosting wins over Tottenham and Liverpool, there remains little margin for error.

Indeed, the Gunners could be back down to fifth should Chelsea beat Stoke on Saturday (Sunday AEDT), while third-placed Tottenham could extend its current four-point cushion with a positive result at Everton ahead of Arsenal's Monday night (Tuesday AEDT) clash against Newcastle, which is itself not yet out of contention.

Wenger, who was charged with improper conduct by UEFA for his post-match comments to Slovenian referee Damir Skomina following the midweek defeat to Milan, said: "For us, it is clear, we have to win our games."

Arsenal has concerns over the fitness of Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who both picked up knocks against Milan.

Mikel Arteta had to miss the game as a precaution following mild concussion, while Aaron Ramsey has been sidelined by an ankle problem.

Midfielder Abou Diaby endured a frustrating return from his latest comeback, breaking down with a hamstring strain after a substitute appearance at Liverpool.

The 25-year-old, though, insists he will soon return - and as strong as a "beast".

In an interview with French media, reproduced on the official Arsenal website, Diaby said: "I get injured. It is a fact, but when people tell you you're fragile, it hurts.

"I have had three operations on my ankle, all for different problems, but the result of that was that my body is unbalanced, especially in my legs.

"Today my ankle is twice as big because of the surgery. My problem is a biomechanical problem. I need to work daily on how to rebalance my body."

Diaby added: "I still have a big future. Physically, I really feel very good, like a beast.

"I have never been as motivated as I am now. I want to prove to everybody, and especially to myself, that I can do it.

"I have faith in what I am doing. I will never give up and I know that I will come out of this tunnel."

Diaby expects his latest lay-off to be minor.

He said: "Unfortunately, I had that little problem at Liverpool, but it is nothing serious and I will start running again at the end of the week."

The prolific 28-year-old, who has netted 32 goals for the north London club this season, is out of contract at the Emirates Stadium in 2013 and has put talks over a new deal on hold until the northern summer.

Mancini would love to add Van Persie to his already star-studded ranks if he became available, but does not think that will happen.

Quoted in several national newspapers, the Italian said: "We are interested in all good players. This is normal, but not only us. I think all the good teams are interested in Van Persie.

"I think Van Persie at this moment is one of the best strikers in Europe with [Lionel] Messi, [Cristiano] Ronaldo and with Sergio [Aguero] and Mario [Balotelli].

"I think he is a fantastic striker, but I think he will remain with Arsenal."

City acquired Samir Nasri from Arsenal last northern summer and has also signed Gael Clichy, Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor from the Gunners in recent years.

Mancini added: "I think if there is a good player who wants to leave a club, then we are interested.

"But if this player wants to stay, we don't have any problem. In my opinion, Van Persie will stay at Arsenal.

"I think Robin van Persie will sign a new contract with Arsenal because if Arsenal lose also Van Persie, they will have a big problem.

"I think Arsenal will buy good players in the summer.

"Arsenal is a top team. They want to win the next Premier League, so for these reasons I think he will stay."

The newspaper's website claims that Podolski will transfer to the Premier League side at the end of the season for a fee of 13 million euros ($16.18 million).

Bild reported the 26-year-old Podolski has agreed a four-year deal with Arsenal that will double his current salary to around 7 million euros ($8.72 million).

Cologne newspaper Express also said Podolski will move from his hometown club in the northern summer.

The Polish-born forward has a contract with Cologne until 2013, and Express says the club is keen not to lose him on a free transfer next year.

Podolski is having a career-best season with 16 goals, and was directly involved in four more of Cologne's 31 league goals this season.

He criticised club officials last month for failing to keep their promise to build a competitive team.

Attempts to contact the Bundesliga club for comment late on Wednesday were unsuccessful.

Podolski refused to comment on the transfer speculation after scoring in Cologne's 1-1 draw at Hoffenheim last weekend.

"I'll give my all for Cologne until the end," he told reporters before leaving.

The Gunners manager confronted the Slovenian official on the pitch after the final whistle and criticised him in his post-match comments.

A UEFA spokesman told Press Association Sport: "A disciplinary case has been opened for improper conduct."

If the case is proved and Wenger is given a touchline ban, it will be the third time within the space of a year he has been given such a sanction by UEFA.

UEFA's control and disciplinary panel are likely to hear the case on 29 March - and would take into account Wenger's recent past record.

Wenger claimed the referee awarded too many free-kicks to the Italian side, which progressed to the quarter-final stage with a 4-3 aggregate win.

He made his thoughts clear on Skomina's performance in his post-match press conference, saying: "I was not happy with the referee tonight because I felt he gave many free-kicks in the middle of the park.

"Every time they went down a free-kick was given for them, and they sensed that very quickly and they used it very well."

UEFA handed Wenger a one-match touchline ban for an on-field rant at Massimo Busacca after his team's last-16 exit to Barcelona last year. The Arsenal boss was fuming at the Swiss referee's decision to send off Robin van Persie.

Wenger was then handed a further two-match touchline suspension in August for violating his Barcelona ban by communicating with the Arsenal bench from the stands during the Gunners' play-off tie against Udinese earlier this season.

Wenger was unhappy with the performance of Damir Skomina in the club's 3-0 win over AC Milan, angrily confronting the Slovenian official after the game on the pitch at the Emirates Stadium.

Wenger claimed the referee gave away too many free-kicks away to the Italians, who progressed to the quarter-final stage with a 4-3 aggregate win.

UEFA will decide whether to charge Wenger based upon the information they receive in Skomina's report, which has to be filed within 48 hours of the end of the match.

European football's governing body said they do not expect to receive the report before tomorrow.

A UEFA spokesman said: "It will be tomorrow before we know."

Wenger made his thoughts clear on Skomina's performance in his post-match press conference, saying: "I was not happy with the referee tonight because I felt he gave many free-kicks in the middle of the park."

"Every time they went down a free-kick was given for them, and they sensed that very quickly and they used it very well."

UEFA handed Wenger a one-match touchline ban for an on-field rant at Massimo Busacca following his team's last-16 exit to Barcelona last year.

Arsenal's boss was fuming at the Swiss referee's decision to send off Robin van Persie.

Wenger was then handed a further two-match touchline suspension for violating his Barcelona ban by communicating with the bench from the stands during the Gunners' playoff tie against Udinese earlier this season.

Trailing 4-0 from what Wenger had labelled a 'shocking performance' at the San Siro three weeks ago, it was always going to take something special to turn the tie around and progress to the quarter-finals.

However, for an hour or so it appeared the record books would be torn up as the Gunners reduced the deficit with first-half goals from Laurent Koscielny, the impressive Tomas Rosicky and Robin van Persie's penalty.

However, the second-half onslaught never came as Milan - which had somehow managed to go out to Deportivo La Coruna in the 2003-2004 quarter-finals having won 4-1 at home, losing the second leg in Spain 4-0 - regrouped and was not really troubled during the closing stages.

Arsenal had recorded morale-boosting victories over Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool in the build-up to this European tie, with another rousing performance just what Wenger had wanted, if missing the final fairytale ending.

He said: "We restored a good performance tonight and we are disappointed because we touched qualification.

"We had the chances and we didn't do it, but we were very close.

"I felt that we suffered a bit in the second half physically because we gave a lot at Liverpool.

"When we tired in midfield we had no options on the bench and the regret I have is there.

"The players put in a faultless performance, with fantastic spirit and you can only congratulate the whole team."

Wenger added: "If you win 3-0 at home, you can only say well done to the players.

"You know that if you play 180 minutes and you miss 90, it is difficult at that level. We were very close."

Wenger was reported to have been involved in a confrontation with Slovakian referee Damir Skomina as they left the field.

Responding to a general question on the match officials in his post-match press conference, the Arsenal manager said: "I was not happy with the referee tonight because I felt he gave many free-kicks in the middle of the park.

"Every time they went down a free-kick was given for them, and they sensed that very quickly and they used it very well."

Wenger was also still annoyed by the manner of the humiliation in Italy, which came on a playing surface which had been relaid just days before.

He said: "It is maybe an easy excuse but I feel UEFA has a lot to answer for because if you arrive at 7.46pm you get fined, but you can play on a bad pitch and they don't say a word.

"I just feel it is part of the respect for people who pay their money and go to a football game and expect conditions where you can play football.

"That's what we try to do here and it is unacceptable for UEFA to accept pitches like the one in Milan."

Despite all of its courageous endeavour, Arsenal must now concentrate all of its energy on retaining a place in the top four of the Premier League to make sure such engaging European nights return next season.

"We are on a good run in the league as well so we know it will be difficult because it is a big disappointment for the players, but the team have grown together," Wenger said.

"Hopefully from there we can finish the season in a strong way because we know there is no room for disappointment in the league. For us every point is a battle and until the end of the season that is what is in front of us."

Wenger continued: "Basically our target is possible, because we are four points behind Tottenham.

"We have to go step by step. We have another big game on Monday night against Newcastle.

"For us, it is clear, we have to win our games."

For Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri, the end product of qualification for the quarter-finals mattered more than being beaten here.

He said: "We suffered in the first half, but then we were fantastic as we only let them have one real chance.

"We did not have the wrong approach and knew we were going to face a difficult match.

"We could have done better, but in the end we got the result and qualified."

Trailing 4-0 after a nightmare performance at the San Siro a fortnight ago, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger knew his side faced a tall order to rewrite history and become the first team to recover from such a deficit in the competition.

For an hour or so at Emirates Stadium it appeared as the record books would be torn up, as the Gunners reduced the deficit with first-half goals from Laurent Koscielny, the impressive Tomas Rosicky and Robin van Persie's penalty.

However, the second-half onslaught never came as Milan - which had somehow managed to go out to Deportivo La Coruna in the 2003-2004 quarter-finals, losing the second leg in Spain 4-0 having won 4-1 at home - regrouped and was not really troubled during the closing stages.

Despite all its courageous endeavour, Arsenal must now concentrate all of its energy on retaining a place in the top four of the Premier League to make sure such engaging European nights return next season.

Arsenal needed an early breakthrough, which came after just seven minutes when Koscielny - who had scored an own goal at Liverpool last weekend - headed in a corner from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

After Van Persie had seen his near-post effort from a tight angle saved, there was a moment of panic in the Gunners defence when Kieran Gibbs was booked after hacking down Stephan El Shaarawy, the 19-year-old making his Champions League debut, after a poor clearance by goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.

Arsenal was soon back on the offensive, when after 18 minutes Van Persie's curling 20-yard effort was acrobatically beaten away by Christian Abbiati.

The shaky Milan rearguard was breached again in the 25th minute. Theo Walcott surged down the right, and when his cross was half-cleared by Thiago Silva, the ball dropped to Rosicky who planted it back inside the near post.

The Emirates Stadium faithful, so seething in their criticism of Wenger and his side this season, were now in full voice as the unlikeliest of comebacks was very much now on.

Rosicky, the 31-year-old Czech, was running the midfield, more than making up for injured colleagues Aaron Ramsey and Mikel Arteta.

As half-time approached, Arsenal continued to press.

Oxlade-Chamberlain powered into the right side of the Milan penalty area, when he was sandwiched by Antonio Nocerino and Djamel Mesbah.

It seemed an age before Slovak referee Damir Skomina pointed to the spot and after another delay for the ball to be relaid, Van Persie kept his cool to smash home his 32nd goal of the season.

Despite its dominance, one break for Milan would have changed the whole dynamic of the tie.

The Italian side's big chance came just before half-time when El Shaarawy was played into acres of space on the right, but as the goal opened up, the teenager shot wide.

Arsenal started the second half on the offensive, but Milan had now regrouped and was closing down quickly, with Alex Song, the Gunners midfield enforcer, booked after 57 minutes for clattering into Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Another goal hovered closer when Gervinho went clear on the left side of the Milan box, but his deflected shot hit the legs of the keeper, with Van Persie's follow-up hit straight at a relieved Abbiati.

A careless pass from Szczesny almost proved costly as Ibrahimovic wrestled the loose ball from Song, but shot wide from 25 yards past the backtracking, and embarrassed, Arsenal number one.

Oxlade-Chamberlain was replaced by Morocco striker Marouane Chamakh as Wenger injected a new dimension to the frontline.

Nocerino should have put the result beyond any doubt when he arrived at the back post onto Alberto Aquilani's low cross, but stabbed a tame effort straight at Szczesny.

Walcott, who looked to have picked up a knock, was replaced for the final six minutes by Korean forward Park Ju-young, who has seen little action since his northern summer move from Monaco - but Arsenal was unable to get a late chance and Milan went through to the quarter-finals.

In the evening's other tie, Benfica scored late in each half to seal a 2-0 win over Zenit St Petersburg and its progress to the last eight.

After losing 3-2 in the first leg, goals from Maxi Pereira and Nelson Oliveira were enough for the Portuguese side.

The Gunners boss was left crestfallen in the San Siro a fortnight ago, having witnessed his side taken apart by the Rossoneri, as a stunning opener from former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng was followed by a brace by ex-Manchester City striker Robinho before a late penalty by Zlatan Ibrahimovic effectively ended the tie as a contest.

After what he described as a 'shocking performance', Wenger felt little genuine hope of progress. However, after two morale-boosting victories over Tottenham and then Liverpool to kickstart its Premier League campaign, the Arsenal manager will take only positive thoughts into Tuesday evening's (Wednesday morning AEDT) European showdown.

"I said I don't live in a dream world - that means I know we have not created an easy situation, but when you are a top-level competitor, even if statistically we have a 5 percent chance, what is important is that we believe that we can be in this 5 percent chance," Wenger said.

"That is what is at stake for us - to show that we have the quality to believe we can do it, even if it is only 5 percent.

"Let us make sure that we do not miss out chance because we did not believe in it."

Only three clubs have recovered from such a first-leg deficit in the history of European competitions, but those were back in the mid-1980s.

Milan, though, somehow managed to go out to Deportivo La Coruna in the 2003-2004 quarter-finals having won 4-1 at home, losing the second leg in Spain 4-0.

Arsenal is short of options in midfield, with Czech playmaker Tomas Rosicky facing a late fitness test on a groin problem and Mikel Arteta needing to rest for a week after suffering a blow to the head in a collision with Jordan Henderson during his side's 2-1 Premier League win at Anfield.

However, the Gunners still have plenty of firepower in attack, with the likes of Theo Walcott, Gervinho and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all ready to support 31-goal skipper Robin van Persie.

Blackburn Rovers was swept aside 7-1 at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League, while arch-rival Tottenham was beaten 5-2 in a game in which the Gunners had trailed 2-0 inside 34 minutes.

Arsenal's record Champions League home win came in the 2007-2008 group stages when Slavia Prague was thrashed 7-0, while three seasons ago Porto was beaten 5-0 in the second leg of the knockout stages, having won the first leg 2-1.

Wenger said: "I know my players well, I know they have been hurt by the first result, and I know they have their pride. They will come out tomorrow and give a performance.

"We lost 4-0 at Milan, but they had five shots on target and we had 55 percent possession there and we didn't play well at all. If they can score four we can as well, why not?

"It is important that we believe we can do it.

"Your belief is stronger when your recent results have been good."

Wenger added: "Even if they should score, we have to ignore it and continue going.

"That is a risk, we have to gamble a bit and go forwards, opening ourselves up a bit, but we will build the squad who will have a good drive going forwards, then everybody has to contribute when you do not have the ball to keep a clean sheet."

Fullback Kieran Gibbs called for his team-mates to deliver the necessary response.

"The whole team was quite hurt by the first leg. Tomorrow gives us a great opportunity to get a sense of pride back," said the 22-year-old England international.

"We have shown fantastic mentality to come back in the last couple of games and have created a momentum now.

"We have to believe otherwise there is no point in being here.

"If they can beat us 4-0 then why can't we do the same? In our last home game, we scored five goals.

"We have to create a faultless performance."

The Spaniard, who was at Everton for six years before leaving last northern summer, collided with Jordan Henderson in the second half and after lengthy treatment was carried off on a stretcher.

He was taken to hospital in the city as Arsenal's medical staff were concerned about a possible neck injury but he was released later that day, although manager Arsene Wenger has ruled him out for a week to recover from concussion.

"I just want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their help and friendship towards me on Saturday," Arteta wrote in an open letter on arsenal.com

"After my accident on the pitch, the Arsenal medical staff did a great job, together with everyone at Liverpool Football Club.

"From Anfield, I was taken straight to the Aintree University Hospital, where they checked me, just as a precaution.

"Everything was fine and I was able to travel from the hospital and join up with my team-mates for the train journey back to London.

"I've since looked back at the TV images of when I was being taken off and just want to show my appreciation to the Liverpool fans at Anfield.

"It is touching to receive that response from the fans of a great club when I am leaving the pitch injured. Thank you.

"I also want to thank Pepe Reina and the Liverpool players who have sent me messages of support and friendship, this again is really touching and just shows class from a great football club.

"And very importantly, a message to all the fantastic Arsenal fans, not only all those at Anfield on Saturday who were brilliant, but also those who have sent me many messages since Saturday.

"It is hugely appreciated. I cannot tell you how much this means to me.

"It must have looked very serious to everyone as I left the pitch on a stretcher, but I'm pleased to say that I'm fine now and hope to be back on the pitch very soon. Thank you everyone."

The Germany striker still has more than a year left on his contract with Cologne, but has repeatedly expressed his disappointment at how his hometown club is being run and has been widely linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium at the end of the season.

Cologne has not given up hope of convincing him to sign a new contract, and Podolski himself has not given anything away.

"I will give all I have got to the very end," he told reporters at the Rhein-Neckar Arena. "We have 10 more very tough matches.

"Every game is a final for us. On Saturday we have an important game against Hertha (Berlin) and we need to win that game at all costs."

When pressed on whether he would be leaving Cologne to join Arsenal in the summer, Podolski said he had "nothing to say" on the issue, asking only for the next question.

Cologne director of sport Volker Finke was equally tight-lipped, telling the Bild newspaper: "We don't want to give any indication at all as to what stage we are at."

But coach Stale Solbakken said Podolski would "give everything for Cologne in the last games" before adding "whether he moves or not."