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Olivier Giroud insists his Arsenal side will have had a "very good season" if they finish fourth and lift the FA Cup.

Giroud admitted he can understand the Gunners' fans feeling fed-up after seeing their title challenge collapse in recent weeks, but he believes the players have shown great character to get their campaign back on track.

Arsenal supporters became restless after a bad run of form, including the humiliating 6-0 loss at Chelsea in Arsene Wenger's 1,000th game as the north Londoners' manager.

But Giroud says they must focus on beating Everton to fourth place before thinking about Wembley next month.

He said: "There are three league matches left that are all as important as the cup final. They are important, because of fourth place and the Champions League. We have closed the book on the FA Cup, we will open it again on May 17.

"If we finish fourth, we have not lost anything and it will be a good season. I think that if we finish fourth, that will be a successful season. And the FA Cup, if we win, would be a bonus.

"To finish fourth is almost crucial for the club. We would like to end well and finish fourth.

"At a club like Arsenal, there is a level of public expectation. I know some fans were unhappy with our defeat against Everton, because that was a match against rivals for fourth. I know some were unhappy but we responded well in the next game and showed our strength of character.

"It is essential to respond collectively to show we are going in the right direction. If we finish fourth, and if we can also win the FA Cup, it will be a good season all the same. We will have a trophy that we have waited for.

"Yes, it is true, there was a lot of expectation this year, because we were first for a long time, but unfortunately we had injuries, but we will go again next year."

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It has been neck-and-neck between Arsenal and Everton in the battle for fourth but after Roberto Martinez's men slipped up now the Gunners have a great chance if they beat visitors Newcastle on Monday.

Giroud has a good record against the Geordies, averaging a goal per game when facing them. But although Alan Pardew's men have lost five matches in a row and scored just a single goal in the process, he stressed Arsenal cannot expect a walkover and ease up.

He said: "I wouldn't say we're very confident, but we are doing well and we want to keep it up at home.

"Newcastle is still a great team but they are in a bad run. You always have to respect your opponent and hopefully we will not wake them up on Monday.

"We need to win the last three games and need to be fully concentrated against a team who needs to be respected, because they have quality, even if they are in a difficult period."

Giroud, with 14 goals and seven assists, also believes he is playing for his own future, with the club likely to sign another striker this summer and also hopes Wenger signs HIS new contract.

He added: "I want to play a big part in the end of this season, score a lot of goals and be efficient for the team because everybody knows we need the three wins.

"I feel that I have more strings to my bow, as I have definitely progressed, I know the Premier League better. This was my objective, to do better than last year.

"It's good, but I still know that I can do better. I can improve ever year, and I will try to get even better, and if I do well it will show in the level of my stats.

"My objectives are like they were at Montpellier, but the Premier League is a bit harder. I still hope to score two or three more goals, overall I want 20 to 25 goals. It's good for my second season and I have fixed my objectives for next year. It's good to continue up front.

"It is not for me to say if clubs are right to change their coach or not. I am very happy with the boss today.

"We will see if he prolongs his contract, but we do not talk about it, I am concentrating on winning the last three games and winning the cup."