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Mikel Arteta desperate to close gap on top teams

Arteta desperate to close gap
© PA Photos
Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta insists that his side aim to take part in the title race next season.

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta has declared that his side must aim to start next season stronger and close the gap on Manchester United.

The Gunners drew 1-1 with the new Premier League champions on Sunday but sit a whopping 21 points behind United in fourth place.

With the fight for Champions League places still in the balance Arteta has insisted that Arsenal have the nucleus of a side that can achieve much more in the next few years.

He told the club's official website: "I hope we can close the gap. Next season we have to improve on this current gap.

"They deserved it [the guard of honour], they won the league with four games to go so they deserved the clapping. When someone does the job you have to congratulate them. This is the respectful thing to do.

"You want to be in that situation where you walk on the pitch and the other teams show respect because you are the winners. Hopefully, along with our young players, we will have the chance to do it."

Arsene Wenger's side resume their fight for a top-four finish on Saturday against relegated Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.

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Liam Power
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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger before the match against Bayern Munich on March 13, 2013
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1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


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