Arsenal boss Arteta says Wenger right to claim top 4 finish as good as trophy | OneFootball

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says Arsene Wenger was right when he insisted a top four finish was as good as a trophy.

Wenger was derided for his 2012 claim at the time.

But with Arsenal currently fourth and looking to get back in the Champions League for the first time since 2017, Arteta did not disagree with his former manager.

He said: "With the experience that Arsene had of the game and the understanding he had, he probably anticipated this.

"He was very aware and probably anticipated that because you could see a lot of teams stopped playing Champions League every season. Whenever he said something, a lot of times it made a lot of sense."

Arsenal have been out of Europe this season for the first time since 1994/95 but are on course to take full advantage of their reduced workload by returning to Europe's elite club competition.

"I think playing in European competitions is a must, and that is what we are trying to do," Arteta said ahead of Sunday's meeting with Leicester.

"We want to get as quickly as possible back around the top teams in this competition."