Arsene Wenger has warned whoever finishes fourth in the Premier League this season that qualifying for the Champions League is not as easy as it used to be.
The final Champions League spot could still be occupied by Wenger's Arsenal come the end of the season but the Frenchman would prefer to finish higher.
The Gunners are currently fourth but a win against Newcastle on Monday evening would see them close to within a point of North London rivals Spurs in third.
Wenger feels that qualification to Europe's elite competition from fourth used to be a "formality" but quality across the continent has increased since.
"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 said.
"Where [Champions League qualification from fourth place] was just a formality before, now it is not."
The Gunners finished fourth last season and had to come through a qualifier against Italian outfit Udinese to advance to the group stage.
"With Udinese we had two hard games," added the 62-year-old. "They are a top team in Serie A."
Wenger's side eventually lost out to another Italian side, AC Milan, in the last 16 of the competition earlier this week.
Pascal Lemesre
