Our teams 'exaggerate' Europa League impact, Arsenal would take it seriously - Wenger

Arsene Wenger's Arsenal side face Dinamo Zagreb tonight

ARSENE WENGER insists he would go all out to win the Europa League if Arsenal were bumped down to UEFA's secondary club competition.

 

Arsenal face the prospect of failing to reach the Champions League knockouts for the first time since 2003, when they fell in the second group stage.

They require victory over Dinamo Zagreb tonight and over Olympiakos in Greece next month to finish second in Group F.

If not, they could join Liverpool, Tottenham and Celtic in the Europa League last-32.

 

The Europa League is seen by many in England as a hindrance rather than an opportunity, with more games being played for less money.

The riches of the Champions League are yet to filter down to the Europa and, coupled with regular Thursday night games, it has been known to destabilise domestic form.

But Wenger insists his Arsenal troops could handle the strain.

 

Liverpool are expected to qualify for the Europa League knockout stage

 

Celtic have endured a difficult campaign in Europe this season

 

Tottenham face Qarabag on Thursday

"We would take the competition seriously - but we are not out (of the Champions League) yet," Wenger said.

"I believe that this problem is exaggerated a little bit in England because we play Wednesday and Saturday, so it is the same as Thursday and Sunday. I can't see the difference.

"There are plenty of examples in Portugal and Spain where teams have taken it seriously and won the championship. Benfica are the example, Sevilla have done well."

 

Tottenham and Liverpool can both qualify for the Europa League knockout stage with respective victories over Qarabag and Bordeaux this Thursday.

Spurs are playing their fifth straight season in the Europa League, having finished fourth in 2009/10 to qualify for the Champions League when they didn't have a European distraction.

Liverpool, likewise, made the Champions League last season when, in 2013/14, they were runners up in the Premier League title chase and didn't compete in Europe.

Celtic, meanwhile, face the prospect of finishing last in their Europa League group. The Scottish champions must beat Ajax on Thursday and Fenerbahce in round six while hoping results swing their way.

The furthest Celtic have gone since the Europa League changed to its current format is the last-32 stage in 2014/15 when they came third in their Champions League group.