Arsenal, Chelsea and Man City can benefit from Champions League exit - Arsene Wenger

THE PREMIER LEAGUE could benefit from their top clubs failing in the Champions League this season, Arsene Wenger has conceded.

Newcastle v Arsenal - Premier League Preview

The Arsenal boss watched on as his side crashed out of Europe’s elite competition to Monaco this week, while Manchester City followed suit in Barcelona yesterday.

Chelsea are also out at the last-16 stage - having gone down 3-3 on aggregate to PSG last week - while Liverpool failed to make it through the group stage.

It means, bar an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, Arsenal have the league to solely concentrate on.

And Wenger, whose side are battling with Chelsea, City, Liverpool and Manchester United for a top-four finish to the league, believes domestic fixtures have taken on extra significance now there is no European midweek distractions.

Arsene Wenger at MonacoGETTY

Arsene Wenger's Arsenal now have only the league and FA Cup to fight for this season

When asked if there was anything inherently wrong with English football at the moment, the Frenchman said: “I think the quality of the Premie League is very high and the physical demands are extreme but I’m not in the mood today to analyse what’s wrong with English football.

“I don’t think there is a lot wrong.

“Maybe for the interest for the Premier League it could be good for the end of the season.

“But you would ask anybody in the Premier League and they would still love to be in (Europe).”

Arsenal are seeking a 19th consecutive qualification for the Champions League and sit third in the Premier League table, a point off second-place City and two above United.

They face Newcastle on Saturday and could feasibly be second - a position they have failed to finish in since 2005 - by the end of the weekend’s results.

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