Sokratis sends warning to Arsenal's Premier League rivals | OneFootball

Arsenal defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos has issued a warning to their top-four rivals after they stretched their unbeaten run to 17 games.

The Gunners beat Bournemouth 2-1 at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netting his 20th goal for the club.

Unai Emery’s men are still to lose but they’re also the only side in the Premier League yet to go into half-time of a game in the lead.

It’s a remarkable statistic that goes some way to proving just how much improvement there is to come from the Emirates outfit.

And the Greek centre-back has admitted as such, calling for his team to continue to challenge for a Champions League spot.

“We are around 70-80 per cent,” he is quoted as saying by the Mirror.

“Of course we need to improve, of course we would like to put Arsenal in the top teams in the Premier League – we try every day for this.

“We need to improve sometimes to not lose the ball or when we have the ball to finish the action and score.

“That is the difference, we need to improve and we know this. We work every day and I am happy that I am part of a team that works very good together.

“We have confidence but it is not easy, we know. Next week is very important, it is good this week that we didn’t lose points because we go next week full of confidence and we will see. Our focus is on [being one of] the best four teams.”

Arsenal now face their first north London derby of the season and the veteran defender is well aware how important the fixture is to everyone at the club.

“Of course it will be a very important game for the next games – but I don’t think it is a game that can give you the Champions League.

“For example, if we win against Tottenham and lose some other games, it is the same thing.

“For me, it is very important that in every game we look different, win every game, we go for the win in every game and in the end we will see how it is going. But of course Tottenham is a very important game.”