Arsene Wenger: It's vital Arsenal avoid Champions League play-off drama 

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Arsene Wenger is desperate to avoid another Champions League play-off headache ahead of Sunday’s crunch clash with Manchester United.

Louis van Gaal’s side can overtake Arsenal in third with victory at Old Trafford, though the Gunners have a game in hand.

The club that finishes fourth will face a potentially tricky play-off to secure their place in the Champions League proper, while the third-placed team will head straight into the group stages.

Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez would be unavailable for the play-offs due to his Copa America commitments 

Arsene Wenger is desperate for his side to consolidate third place and avoid the play-offs 

The Gunners have been in the play-offs in three of the previous four seasons - a fate Wenger wants to avoid.

The incentive for Arsenal to finish third is even greater after Wenger revealed star man Alexis Sanchez would miss any qualification play-off due to his Copa America commitments.

Wenger explained: ‘It’s very important for your season preparations not to have that kind of stress over your head from the first day you start again, it’s vital.

‘We know what it means and we know it’s always tricky because you can play against teams who are in the middle of their championship when you are in preparation.

‘The consequences are always dramatic if you don’t qualify. It is the pressure of not qualifying that is massive.

Sanchez leaves the pitch dejected following Arsenal's 1-0 defeat by Swansea at the Emirates on Monday 

‘What is even more important now is that the international competitions force you most of the time to start the new season without your players.

‘You cannot give them a long enough rest when they have played international games. If we give Sanchez four weeks’ holiday (after the Copa America) he won’t be back till July 21 so he will not be available for a play-off.’

Following a 2-1 away second-leg win at Udinese in 2011 to book their place in the Champions League proper; Arsenal lost their next fixture — the infamous 8-2 loss at Old Trafford.

Arsenal’s record at Old Traffrod has been poor in recent years, but the did win there in the FA Cup in March 

Danny Welbeck scored the decisive goal that night as the Gunners dumped United out of the tournament 

‘The clash against Udinese was most stressful because you saw afterwards they had a very strong team. It contributed to our bad result at Old Trafford three days later,’ said Wenger.

‘When you qualify at Udinese and three days later have to go to Old Trafford with exactly the same focus, you have more chance to lose the game than to win it so sometimes you pay the price in the Premier League.

‘A play-off means in pre-season training you have to focus, you are already thinking about that day.’

Meanwhile, Wenger has urged Arsenal to strike a psychological blow on United with victory on Sunday.

Arsenal’s record at United has been poor in recent years, but they did secure a landmark victory at Old Trafford in the FA Cup earlier this season.

‘Winning there would convince us more that we have added strength ahead of next season,’ said Wenger.

Arsenal also have bad memories of Old Trafford, with their 2011 8-2 defeat there a standout moment

‘In the recent years it was a difficult ground for us and that is what we want to show that we have made progress.

‘We can make a symbolic statement. We won over there in the FA Cup, to reproduce that would be psychologically important.’

Wenger also confirmed that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has suffered another injury setback after complaining of hamstring trouble in training.

The England forward, who has spent the last two months on the sidelines with hamstring and groin injuries, could now miss the rest of the season, including the FA Cup final against Aston Villa.