Wenger wary of stronger rivals

Arsene Wenger believes that Champions League qualification is no longer guaranteed for a fourth-place Premier League finish.

Arsenal, who finished fourth in the English top flight last season, had to overcome a strong Udinese side in August to secure their qualification for the group stage in Europe’s premier club competition.

Chelsea are the last English team remaining in this season’s campaign, and Wenger attributes this to the increased strength in European football.

“Looking at the quality in Europe, it is going up, for any English team it is difficult. I have felt that for a few years now,” Wenger told The Mirror.

“Where it (Champions League qualification from fourth place) was just a formality before, now it is not.”

“With Udinese we had two hard games, they are a top team in Serie A.”

“Judging on this season we (English teams) are not (on top), they (the rest of Europe) have caught up.”

After being knocked out of the competition by Milan, the Gunners are now focused on the closing stages of their domestic league campaign and closing in on third-placed Tottenham.

“I try to do my best and just know that I am ready to fight,” Wenger said.

“At the moment for Tottenham, it (third place) is still in their hands. It will be down to consistency.”

“We have difficult games, they have difficult games and I think we have to make sure first that the fourth spot is there.”