Henrikh Mkhitaryan knows Arsenal cannot rest on their laurels after moving back into the Premier League top four with victory over Southampton.
The Armenia international scored and provided an assist for Alexandre Lacazette as the Gunners secured a 2-0 win on Sunday.
The three points, coupled with Manchester United’s draw with Liverpool, was enough to move Unai Emery’s side up to fourth – with Saints still in the relegation zone after a run of four games without a win.
MICKIII!#ARSSOU 🔴 2-0 😇 (17) pic.twitter.com/k1BHZDYvx2 — Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) February 24, 2019
Bournemouth are the visitors to the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday before a north London derby against Tottenham at Wembley and Mkhitaryan insists Arsenal are not going to take their foot off the gas.
“We are not looking at the table at the moment because we still have lots of games to play,” he said.
“The most important is to be focused and to be ready for every game because we are not going to think that we are in the top four and nothing will change.
“We just have to keep working and trying our best to win three points in every game.
“It is not the main thing at the moment. The season is not done, we still have lots of games to play. The most important thing is to stay focused and keep winning games.”
Arsenal dominated the first half and could have been further ahead at the interval but for some wayward finishing – especially from Lacazette, who blazed high over the crossbar from close range.
Southampton were better in the second half but midfielder Oriol Romeu was left ruing a slow start as Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side remain a point behind Cardiff in 18th place.
Not the result we wanted, but thank you for your superb support on the road again, #SaintsFC fans! 👏 pic.twitter.com/oMySWmUiJ6 — Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) February 24, 2019
“It was tough, especially in the first half,” said Romeu.
“We were not getting near enough to their players, who were playing quick football between the lines with one or two touches.
“In the second half, we tried to go higher. We put four at the back and more players up front so we could get closer to them and make sure their midfielders were not playing those balls between the lines.
“That helped us – we had more chances in their half and put more pressure on them. That reaction was good, but probably not enough.”
