Arsenal back to the battle of fourth place finish with Everton breathing down their neck. Mr Wenger but why does it always have to come to this?

When they beat Crystal Palace at home on Sunday February 2, Arsenal were top of the Barclays Premier League with 55 points, 10 clear of Everton in fifth and both teams had 14 games to play.

Six days later, they were thrashed 5-1 at Liverpool, leapfrogged by Chelsea and have been on the slide since, winning four of 11 games in all competitions. Everton have won the last three and are six points behind with a game in hand.

If Wenger’s team lose at home to Manchester City on Saturday and Everton win at Fulham on Sunday, Roberto Martinez can take his side into the top four on goal difference by beating Arsenal at Goodison Park on Sunday week. And still have a game in hand.

‘Of course it is still possible,’ said Leon Osman, after winning at Newcastle on Tuesday. ‘There are so many points to play for and anything can happen.

‘As long as it’s still a possibility, we’ll certainly be getting our heads down and trying to win every game and finish in the top four.

‘Maybe we have the momentum. We’ve won three in a row and they are possibly having a sticky patch, although we don’t want to worry too much about Arsenal. We’ve got a couple of important games coming up which we’re capable of winning. It would be great if we could keep this run going.’