Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta knows Europe is on the line against West Ham today.
Arteta's men go into this afternoon's clash at the London Stadium knowing a victory is vital for both sides in the race for Europe.
Asked whether the concertina at the top was because the traditional big clubs had gone backwards this season or because others had got better, he said: “It has been a really strange season, unprecedented, and there have been more surprises than ever, so it has to be a factor, what happened.
“But then it's a question as well that the teams in the Premier League are getting stronger and stronger, and the difference between the top teams and the rest is not that big.
“You can see that not only on the league table but as well in every game you watch in the Premier League how tough it is to get the points."
