Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has claimed that Manchester United do not deserve to be in the Champions League
The Gunners manager has revealed that the winners of the Europa League shouldn't be allowed a place in Europe's premier competition
ARSENE WENGER has revealed that he doesn't believe Manchester United should be allowed to compete in the Champions League.
The Arsenal boss has claimed that winning the Europa League shouldn't entitle you to compete in Europe's premier competition.
Last season saw the Gunners drop out of the top four for the first time under the 67-year-old's 21-year reign in charge, as they finished fifth.
While the Red Devils - who finished in sixth place, beat Ajax 2-0 in the Europa League final in Stockholm to seal a spot in the Champions League.
Speaking to the Evening Standard, Wenger revealed he has never been a fan of the rule, he said: "I was always against it.
"Because apart from Man United, who did win the Europa League?
"All the years before it was always a team who was kicked out of the Champions League by having been kicked out of it before.
"You cannot go into the season and think that (you will get into the Champions League by winning the Europa League). I always was not in favour of that.
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“I think at some stage it can influence on the championship.
"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, on the regularity of the competition.
"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."
The last time Arsenal took part in the second-tier competition was in the 1999/2000 season, where they lost on penalties to Galatasaray in the final.
They will begin their quest at winning this tournament for the first time in their career when they group stage commences in the middle of September.
The North London champions are gearing up for their Community Shield clash against London rivals Chelsea on Sunday, as the FA Cup champions meet the Premier League winners.
Rob Holding - one of the stars in Arsenal's 2-1 win against the Blues back in May, has revealed the mind-games he carried out with Diego Costa, resulting in him calling the Spanish striker a "nutter."
Asked what he told the former Atletico Madrid man during the encounter at and Arsenal Q&A event, he said: "An expletive, then I just called him a nutter basically.
"Something's not right in his head, I don't think.
"I knew what he was going to play like, I knew he was going to try the mind games and try and throw me off my game, so I just didn't rise to it and got back into position.
"I think he sort of tapped my chest, so I think there was a little bit of respect there maybe -- so he was alright."
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