Walcott desperate for top-four finish

17 March 2013 10:27

Theo Walcott says it would be a "tragedy" if Arsenal failed to qualify for the Champions League next season.

Arsenal bowed out of the 2012/13 Champions League round of 16 via the away goals rule, following a 3-3 aggregate draw with Bayern Munich over two legs.

They defeated Swansea 2-0 away from home in the league on Saturday to sit two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea on the table, with the Champions League qualification places still a realistic ambition for Arsene Wenger's men.

"We want to be at places like Bayern Munich again, it would be a tragedy for this team not to be in the Champions League," Wenger told The Mirror.

"The way we played in Germany shows how much we have underperformed at times this season. It's been up and down. For the big occasions, we tend to turn up, it's just very frustrating. We need to take the desire and confidence we showed in Germany into the Premier League.

"Belief is the main thing. There were no negative thoughts against Bayern and everyone wanted to work for each other. We need to show that desire and belief in every game now."

The 24-year-old also suggested that a lack of leadership on the field has proved detrimental for the Gunners this season, a factor he believes improved at the Allianz Arena.

"We had a lot of leaders in Germany, telling people what to do, there was more communication than there has been previously.

"We have definitely been too quiet, we've been afraid to tell each other what to do – even to tell each other off. Now we need to show a bit more of that, like we did in Germany. We don't need to always have a go at each other, but we have to speak hard truths.

"We care, we want to prove we want to win and show the desire and commitment. We need to show it to each other and maybe sometimes the referee as well."