Lucas Torreira says Arsenal ‘deserve’ to be in the Champions League because they are a ‘big club’

Lucas Torreira believes Arsenal ‘deserve’ to be playing Champions League football because of the club’s status.

The Gunners, who have failed to qualify for Europe’s premier club competition for the past two seasons, are currently off the pace in the battle for a top-four Premier League finish again this season.

Unai Emery’s side sit sixth on the back of Sunday’s 3-1 loss at champions Manchester City, a point below Manchester United and three behind fourth-placed Chelsea.

Lucas Torreira believes Arsenal should be in the Champions League as they are a big club

Arsenal have slipped out of the top four and are three points adrift of Chelsea in fourth

Uruguay midfielder Torreira admits his team must improve their recent form, which has seen them collect only 10 points from the last 21 available, if they are to achieve their primary objective.

‘Just a few weeks ago, (Manchester) United were obviously behind us but it’s happened and it’s something we have to deal with,’ the 22-year-old told Sky Sports News.

‘We obviously don’t want that form to happen again. As players, you always need to be fighting for an objective when you walk out onto the pitch and for us that means qualifying for the Champions League.

‘We know it’s not going to be easy, that’s for sure, because we are up against some great teams such as Chelsea and Manchester United but we need to try and stand firm as a team and as a group and battle in every game.

‘The squad is focused on qualifying for the Champions League because a big club like Arsenal deserves to be playing in that competition.’

The Gunners face Huddersfield next in the Premier League before the first leg of their round-of-32 Europa League tie against BATE.

Unai Emery will be eager to make it back to Europe’s elite competition 

Unai Emery’s track record in European competition should give Arsenal fans hope of Champions League qualification by another route, having triumphed three times with Sevilla between 2014 and 2016.

The Gunners boss will be determined to make it back into Europe’s elite league to ease the financial constraints currently being imposed on his tenure.

Sportsmail revealed that his summer transfer budget will only amount to £45million, meaning another austere approach to player purchases could well be on the cards next season.