Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has acknowledged that defeat at Crystal Palace on Saturday would have been a huge blow to his side's chances of finishing in the top four.

Goals from Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud gave the Gunners a 2-1 victory at Selhurst Park, which moved them up to third in the Premier League.

Wenger says that the game was important in his preparation for Wednesday's Champions League last-16 encounter with AS Monaco.

"It's good preparation to win a game," Goal.com quotes Wenger as saying.

"You recover more quickly when you win. Physically, it was very demanding, on a difficult pitch, but I have enough experience to know that the most important game is the one you are playing. Honestly, what has been important for me has been to win at Palace.

"We have fought like mad to come back in a strong position in the league. Not to win at Palace would have been disastrous."

Arsenal have now won five of their last six league games.