The Gunners are currently in a three-way battle to secure a top four position in the Premier League, and lead their London rivals Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspurs by one and two points respectively, albeit having played a game more than both teams.

They face a daunting and must-win encounter against newly crowned Premier League champions Manchester United this weekend, and any slip-up could prove fatal in their quest for Champions League football next term.

Gunners winger Oxlade-Chamberlain has no doubts that they can overcome Man United and consolidate their third position in the table. According to London Evening Standard, Oxlade-Chamberlain believes Arsenal are capable of launching a sustained assault on next year’s Premier League, and claimed that his side are as good as anyone in the world.

He said, “As a team we’re as good as anyone in the Premier League, right up there with the best in Europe and worldwide. There’s a few things we need to tie up but we’ve been working hard as a team and becoming an increasingly tight unit and we’re winning games that we should win. We have quality players in our side and believe we can beat anyone.”

Arsenal faced a similar situation last campaign, when they overhauled a ten point deficit to finish a point above Spurs in third place, relegating them to Europa League action. However, even European Champions Chelsea are involved this season, with the battle set to go down to the wire to determine which clubs plays in which competition next season.

Even Oxlade-Chamberlain echoed such sentiments, “We qualified last year in difficult circumstances. And we’re in a similar boat this year. It’s going to be very difficult and intense but we just have to ensure we’re taking everything we can out of every game left.”

They have the easiest of the run-ins when compared to their rivals, with only next weekend’s mouth-watering clash against Manchester United posing a stern test. They are in pole position to secure a spot, and with Chelsea facing Spurs in the re-arranged Premier League fixture, the next spot could go to the winner of that encounter.

However, Arsenal will have to contend with the loss of 17-goal striker Olivier Giroud, who lost his appeal to overturn a red card earned in the 1-0 win over Fulham. He will sit out the next three games for the Gunners, in what could be a devastating blow to their top-four aspirations.