Emmanuel Petit has urged Arsenal to focus on qualifying for the UEFA Champions League via a top-four finish instead of trying to win the Europa League.
The Gunners were pipped to fourth by local rivals Tottenham Hotspur last season at the final hurdle, leaving them to play another season without Europe's first-tier competition. Winning the Europa League this term would mean that they qualify for next season's Champions League but former Gunners midfielder Petit has told his old side that their league form should be the priority over everything else.
Speaking to fairbettingsites.co.uk, the Frenchman said: "The Europa League, as you know, the winner has a chance to play the Champions League for the following season, so it’s something that Arsenal are very aware about. They were not far from reaching it last season.
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"But they have the quality to do something good in this competition. Knowing, as well, that there is big, big teams in the Europa League.
"For me, the priority is the Premier League. If they can do something good in Europa League, that’s good enough, I will take it. But to be honest with you, and I’m pretty sure all the players and managers are focussed about it, their priority is the Premier League. They need to come back to the way Arsenal was before years ago.
"They need to get stronger in the Championship, to get stronger in Europe. Don’t forget, two or three years ago, when Arteta came to the club it was a mess. On top of that, it was the pandemic, and he had so many troubles with some leaders – especially Aubameyang, his captain.
"They were missing quality players, options, and now – three years after that – all the work has been done, and they are doing great jobs. This is why the priority is the Premier League. They need to come back stronger in the league to contend for something else in Europe."
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