Arsenal will 'focus completely on the Premier League', says Arsene Wenger as his side prepare for first season without Champions League in 20 years
- Arsene Wenger says Arsenal will prioritise the Premier League this season
- Boss hopes his side's Champions League exile will help Gunners domestically
- Wenger suggests he will rest important first-team players in the Europa League
Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal's failure to qualify for the Champions League will allow them to focus on winning the Premier League for the first time since 2004.
The Gunners boss plans to utilise his full squad in the Europa League, keeping his first-team stars fresh for a serious assault on English football's top prize.
'For us it is a good opportunity to focus completely on the Premier League,' Wenger explained ahead of Sunday's Community Shield clash with Chelsea.
'I would say that the Premier League has, in my opinion, taken over from the Champions League interest-wise.'
Arsene Wenger, pictured at a recent open training session, is focusing on domestic matters
He thinks Arsenal's lack of Champions League football can help them in the Premier League
The Frenchman noted in May that the two most recent league champions - Chelsea and Leicester City - did not play European football during their title-winning campaigns.
Arsenal's fifth-placed finish last season meant they missed out on the Champions League for the first time in 20 years and they will play in the less prestigious Europa League instead.
'I will always play a team that has a good chance to win the next game,' Wenger added.
'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.'
Arsenal beat league champions Chelsea in May's FA Cup Final, which set up this weekend's rematch at Wembey.
Wenger expects Antonio Conte's side to have a tougher time retaining the league title, considering they now have Champions League football to play as well.
'Last year, Chelsea did not play in the European Cup and, certainly, they were a bit more consistent in the Premier League,' Wenger said.
'Will they make as many points? I don't know. But they will fight certainly for the championship again.
'And in the FA Cup final we have shown that the gap was not as high maybe. And we have to show that again on Sunday.'
Arsenal have not won the Premier League since 2003-04 when they went unbeaten all season
But Wenger hopes his team's Champions League hiatus can help them end their title drought
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