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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admitted that there are still concerns that fourth place in the league is not enough for a guaranteed Premier League qualification, and early stage matches would need to be undertaken to guarantee progress into the tournament.
Arsenal had to play Udinese this year in the early stages of the tournament, and Wenger's men scraped by.
"Looking at the quality in Europe, it is going up, for any English team it is difficult. I have felt that for a few years now," Wenger told The Mirror. "Where it [Champions League qualification from fourth place] was just a formality before, now it is not. With Udinese we had two hard games, they are a top team in Serie A.
"Judging on this season we [English teams] are not [on top], they [the rest of Europe] have caught up. Maybe because in England every championship game is a complete commitment, we suffer a bit more in the decisive Champions League games. This season did not go well. Maybe the clubs have to up the quality of their game."
Written by Samuel Turnbull
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