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Arsenal were 'fighting for their lives' in win against Stoke, claims Hector Bellerin as Arsene Wenger's side keep alive the battle for the top four

Hector Bellerin has admitted Arsenal were 'fighting for their lives' in Saturday's victory over Stoke that kept alive their hopes of securing a top-four finish.

Olivier Giroud scored twice as Arsene Wenger's side recorded their second victory in four days and moved to within a place of fourth-placed Liverpool.

Arsenal had not won in their previous six league matches at the bet365 Stadium before this weekend – a run stretching back to 2010. But Bellerin claimed the do-or-die situation facing him and his team-mates was the motivation they needed to end their poor record at Stoke.

Arsenal were 'fighting for their lives' in Saturday's 4-1 win against Stoke, claims Hector Bellerin
Arsenal were 'fighting for their lives' in Saturday's 4-1 win against Stoke, claims Hector Bellerin
Olivier Giroud scored twice as Arsenal ended their poor run of results at the bet365 Stadiumu00a0
Olivier Giroud scored twice as Arsenal ended their poor run of results at the bet365 Stadium

'We knew that we were playing for our lives really, so any result other than a win wasn’t good for us,' he told the club's website.