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Arsene Wenger: Europa League isn't useless

Wenger: Europa League isn't useless
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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger praises the Europa League ahead of the Premier League's decisive final day.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has defended the much-maligned Europa League as the race for a Champions League spot goes down to the wire.

The Gunners go into Sunday's final round of Premier League games knowing that a win would secure third spot - the lowest place that would guarantee a Champions League place next season.

Should Chelsea beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League final on May 19, fourth place would be entered into the Europa League instead of the usual reward of Europe's top competition.

However, Wenger believes that Wednesday's Europa League final proves that the competition is a good one.

"The Europa League final was a fantastic game. Atletico Madrid against Athletic Bilbao was fantastic to watch, much better than many Champions League games," Wenger told The Mirror.

"Personally, I don't feel it's a useless competition. What's a useless competition for you? For me, a good competition is when you see two good teams play a good game. I watched Bilbao and Atletico Madrid and I watched the whole game, didn't miss a second.

"You see a fantastic football team. That's what competition has to produce - fantastic football games. There are some boring Champions League games but of course you want to be in the Champions League."

Arsenal face a final day trip to West Bromwich Albion, while rivals Tottenham and Newcastle will play Fulham and Everton respectively.

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool18143145172845
2Arsenal19116238172139
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest1911442619737
4Chelsea19105438231535
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle1995532211132
6Manchester CityMan City199463226631
7Bournemouth198652923630
8Fulham197842825329
9Aston Villa198562831-329
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton196942928127
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1973941281324
12Brentford197393335-224
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham196582335-1223
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd196492126-522
15Crystal Palace194872027-720
16Everton183871524-917
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1944113142-1116
18Ipswich TownIpswich1936101833-1515
19Leicester CityLeicester1935112242-2014
20Southampton1913151239-276


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