Wenger says exit from Champions League wouldn't harm contract talks
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[May 09, 2017]
(Reuters) - Arsenal manager
Arsene Wenger on Tuesday said that failure to qualify for next
season's Champions League would not jeopardize contract negotiations
with players.
Arsenal's hopes of a top four Premier League finish and a spot in
Europe's elite competition depend on the teams above them slipping
up during the final stages of the season.
Sixth-placed Arsenal's 2-0 win over Manchester United on Sunday left
them six points behind Manchester city, albeit with a game in hand.
If Arsenal stay out of the top four, it would be the first time the
London club has failed to qualify for the Champions League in more
than two decades under Wenger.
"Maybe, it can impact if in a longer spell you are not in there. But
at the moment we are not in that mode," Wenger told reporters.
"Because we are in a strong financial position. The weight of a
Champions League place is less big than it was in previous years.
Negotiations-wise (for players) it will not have a huge impact."
Wenger expressed regret that he had been unable to give striker
Lucas Perez more games. Perez has scored eight times in 21
appearances for Arsenal since joining in August.
"He is a top quality striker, I couldn't give him the games he wants
and deserves and I feel sorry for him," Wenger said.
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Tottenham fans hold up banners for Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
Action Images via Reuters / Paul Childs Livepic
"Don't take anything away from his quality. I would love to (keep
him) if I am the manager but we have to sit down together and see if
he has a reasonably chance to play or not."
Defender Laurent Koscielny and midfielder Granit Xhaka are set to
face late fitness tests before the trip to St. Mary's as they
recover from recurring minor injuries.
(Reporting by Aditi Prakash in Bengaluru; editing by Richard Lough) [© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All
rights reserved.]
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