Arsene Wenger claims that next season Arsenal will prioritise the Premier League over the Europa League.
Arsenal’s failure to get into the Champions League this season could be a blessing in disguise since Wenger has now confirmed that he will rest first team players during the mid-week fixtures and prioritise the Premiership.
“For us it is a good opportunity to focus completely on the Premier League,” he said.
“I would say that the Premier League has, in my opinion, taken over from the Champions League interest-wise.
“I will always play a team that has a good chance to win the next game.
“In the Europa League if we can afford sometimes to rest some players we will do it.
“But we have to adapt to the level of the competition and see first what kind of group we play in.
“You cannot go into the season and think that [the Champions League spot for the winner].
“I always was not in favour of that, because I think at some stage it can influence on the championship.
“Because if a team is in April in a position where they have more chance to win the Europa League they can let some games go in the championship, and not completely focus on that competition.”
Arsenal haven’t won the Premier League since 2004. However, finishing fifth for the first time in around two decades last season came as a big wake-up call.
This isn’t Arsenal Football Club.
Therefore, all focus next season needs to be on the Premier League and not just finishing in the top four, but winning it.
While some believe that, just like any trophy, Arsenal should be trying to win the Europa League, using the fixtures almost like cup games would be beneficial for the squad.
Young, promising players, such as Reiss Nelson, could travel around the world, playing against teams most of us have never heard of on a Thursday night, while the first team can rest up.
The main guys aren’t having to travel in and out of different timezones and play in different climates between Premiership games, they’ll be resting and preparing.
Unlike the rest of the big teams, who will be in the Champions League for a lot of the season.
Meanwhile, the youngsters will be gaining valuable experience against European sides, representing their club at a competitive level, and probably having the time of their lives.
For them, the Europa League won’t be a chore that they have to carry out because they were terrible last season, it’ll be a privileged.