Arsenal must win the Europa League because finishing in top four now looks impossible, warns legend Ian Wright

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Arsenal legend Ian Wright has warned his former side they must win the Europa League or face the severe consequences of not playing Champions League football in consecutive campaigns.

Arsene Wenger's side look set to finish outside the top four once again with Arsenal currently occupying sixth spot.

The Gunners are eight points behind fourth-placed Chelsea with just 11 games to go but they do have a lifeline.

Ian Wright has warned the current crop of Arsenal stars that they must win the Europa League

Arsene Wenger's side look set to finish outside of the top four for the second season in a row

Arsenal can seal a spot in next season's Champions League by replicating Manchester United's Europa League win – with Swedish outfit Ostersunds standing between themselves and the last-16.

Wright, writing in his column for The Sun, said of their need to win Europe's second-tier competition: 'Fourth spot in the Premier League now looks impossible for Wenger. Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Spurs pretty much ended any hopes.

'To close a seven-point gap with an inferior goal difference — and just 11 games left to play — would be an incredible achievement.

'Also, when you consider the defensive errors that keep happening, I cannot see Arsenal avoiding defeat.

'They don’t seem to be learning or improving and that is really frustrating.

'Gooners got excited — understandably so — with the arrivals of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, coupled with the 5-1 hammering of Everton. But the Spurs game highlighted the same old weaknesses. I just don’t see Arsenal improving.'

Wenger's side face Graham Potter's Ostersunds in Sweden on Thursday before hosting the European minnows at the Emirates next week.

Wright has called on Arsenal fans to not get too excited despite their January transfer business

Arsenal will aim to replicate Manchester United's Europa League success last season