Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has claimed that the team need to grasp the "opportunity" of winning the Europa League.

At the moment, lifting the trophy seems to be the only avenue to Champions League football as the Gunners are currently out of the race.

Wenger's men sit sixth in the Premier League table, 13 points adrift of the top four with nine games left to play.

"It makes me think a little bit about last year. Last year with the FA Cup, we made 75 points in the league and missed the Champions League by one point only," Wenger said during his pre-match press conference.

"Seventy-five points is still a very good score what we will not reach this season. [The Europa League] is an opportunity we have to take. It increases the pressure even more on this competition. It is certainly difficult when you go through a patch like we are but I believe it is a good opportunity to show you have the quality and strength.

"You can only show that when it is difficult. It is a good opportunity to show we can deal with that and as well, on the longer term, it will make the team even stronger."

Arsenal will take on AC Milan in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday.