Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has spoken of his desire to see the club clinch a Europa League spot for the 2015-16 campaign.

The Saints were expected by many to struggle this season following a mass overhaul of personnel last summer, but Koeman led the club to seventh place in his debut season in English football.

As a result, they will qualify for Europe's secondary competition if Arsenal beat Aston Villa in the FA Cup final on Saturday, and Koeman insists that it will be "good for the club" to compete in the Europa League.

"I hope Arsenal will win the FA Cup next week because we may get a chance to play Europa League football next season," Koeman told Sky Sports News.

"It is important for the club, it is important for the players and it is a good experience for all the people in the club. It will be a nice challenge we hope but we have to wait. I am not a person that always thinks negatively.

"I am thinking positively about it because it will be good for the club. It would be good to put Southampton the club in Europe. I'm very happy. We had a difficult start in the pre-season and we did a great job – both the players and the staff. Overall I am very proud of what we did this season."

Southampton finished the season just two points behind sixth-placed Liverpool and four off fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.