Shkodran Mustafi believes Arsenal qualifying for the Champions League again is more important than winning the Premier League title once.
The Gunners have seen their hopes of lifting a first top-flight title since 2003/04 fade after a poor run of form. Arsenal have drawn three and lost one of their past four games.
But Arsenal will play in the Champions League for the first time since the 2016/17 season.
Manchester City have the advantage in the Premier League title race after beating Arsenal 4-1 on Wednesday. Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland proved to be too much to handle.
It closed the gap at the top of the table between Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola’s teams to two points. But the Citizens still have two games in hand over the Gunners.
Yet Nottingham Forest beating Brighton & Hove Albion 3-1 guaranteed Arsenal will finish in the top four of the table.
Mustafi believes the Champions League is more important for Arsenal
Arsenal last qualified for the Champions League after ending the 2015/16 Premier League season in second place. Leicester City won the top-flight title that term.
Former Arsenal defender, Mustafi, has now suggested that qualifying for the Champions League is more important for Arteta’s team than the Premier League title.
The German believes their return to UEFA’s elite competition shows the progress the club have made under Arteta. It can also now serve as a springboard.
Mustafi told Sky Germany: “Arsenal haven’t played in the Champions League since Arsene Wenger left the club in 2018.
“In my view, the positive development that the club have gone through under Arteta is almost more important than winning the league just once and then not being able to build on it, like Leicester City did after winning the title in 2016.
“I think Arsenal have already won a title in which they play in the Champions League again next year because that’s where the club belongs.
“Of course, Arsenal want to win the league after a season like the current one. But the goal will be to play at the top for the next few years and not just win the Premier League once, but one or the other title.”
Our view: Mustafi has a point about the importance of European football
Mustafi has a point in suggesting returning to the Champions League is of great importance for Arsenal. But the Gunners would have wanted to win the Premier League title.
Arteta put the north London club in a great position to win a first top-flight title in 19 years.
But dropping points against Liverpool and West Ham United before fighting for a draw with Southampton cost them far more than losing to Manchester City.
Yet few would have expected Arsenal to challenge for the Premier League title this season. Their goal for the 2022/23 campaign was only to return to the Champions League.
Arsenal missed out on qualifying for the Champions League last term when they had a spot in the competition under their control.
Now, Arteta can further his development of Arsenal by building on their Champions League return by recruiting players who could support future Premier League title races.
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