JOSE Fonte has urged Saints to do everything they can not to leave their European fate up to Arsenal.

Ronald Koeman’s side are within touching distance of a Europa League spot, having ensured at least a seventh-placed finish this season.

However, if they do not improve on that position in their final game of the campaign, at Manchester City, on Sunday, their fate will be dependent on the outcome of the FA Cup final.

“Everything is in our hands,” said Fonte. “We are not expecting favours from anyone.

“We’re still in the position that maybe will give us the access if Arsenal win the cup, but, obviously, we don’t want to wait for them.

“We want to make sure we are in the Europa League with our merits and, for that, we need to win against Man City and wait for [Tottenham or Liverpool] to drop points.”

An Arsenal win against Aston Villa, at Wembley, on May 30, would ensure the side finishing seventh and enters the third qualifying round of the Europa League.

However, a Villa victory would see the Midlands club advance instead.

Saints can still finish as high as fifth - giving them guaranteed entry to the Europa League group stages - but that would require them to win at City on Sunday and also see Tottenham drop points at Everton, and Liverpool fail to win at Stoke.

If Koeman’s men finish sixth, they would definitely earn a Europa League spot, but the cup final would still have a bearing on them.

An Arsenal win would send them straight into the group stages in that scenario, while a Villa victory would put them into the third qualifying round - meaning they would need to win a pair of two-legged ties to reach the group stage.

While winning at City may be a tall order, Saints go there with confidence after their 6-1 demolition of Villa at St Mary’s last weekend.

Midfielder Steven Davis said: “It’s what we wanted at this stage, to be going into the final game of the season with something to play for.

“It’s something to look forward to, going to Manchester City in what’s such a big game for us.”

“I don’t think we’ve ever differed from our opinion all season that we wanted to qualify for European football.

It would be great for the club, great for the players to be on the European stage.”