Arsène Wenger believes Arsenal face their toughest ever battle to qualify for next season’s Champions League.The Frenchman has only once failed to take the Gunners into Europe’s elite competition and that came in his first season at the helm back in 1996-97.
With the influx of new club owners and this summer’s record Premier League spending spree, the Arsenal manager insists there is no longer a ‘Top Four’.
“I think there is a top eight or nine who can fight for that [the Champions League places],” said Wenger. “It is very open and I think it will be more and more open because there are so many investors who have come in.
“West Ham are ambitious. Aston Villa are ambitious. Everton are a good side. Newcastle too. So it’s a top eight, nine. It will be harder than ever to finish in the top four.”