Arsenal will not qualify for the Champions League, claims Martin Keown: 'I don't see them top four... they'll have to win the Europa League'

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Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown has admitted Arsene Wenger's side will struggle to finish in the Champions League qualification places and has tipped them for a 'long season ahead'.

Arsenal have not been in good form of late, winning just one of their last four Premier League fixtures.

They are currently in sixth position in the league, five points behind Liverpool, who occupy the last Champions League spot.

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown cannot see them qualifying for the Champions League

Former Gunners defender Keown admitted he cannot see them breaking into the top-four and believes their only hope of playing in Europe's best competition next season is if they win the Europa League.

'They are going to have to do what Manchester United did (win the Europa League) in order to qualify for the Champions League,' Keown told BT Sport.

'I don't see them making the top four, if you look now Liverpool are four or five points ahead of them, even Tottenham who are ahead of them are not guaranteed making that position.'

Arsene Wenger's men are struggling in the league and are five points outside the top four

Keown (L) said Arsenal will have to what Manchester United did and win the Europa League

The Europa League and the Carabao Cup are the only trophies Arsenal can realistically win now that they are out of England's oldest cup competition.

Arsenal crashed out of the FA Cup  - a competition they have won three times in the last four years - after losing 4-2 to Championship side Nottingham Forest on the weekend.  

Keown believes the FA Cup successes in recent years have been important for morale and is worried their exit from the competition could now have drastic effect on the rest of their season.

'So many of Wenger's seasons have hinged around the FA Cup, but they can't win that now,' he said.

'This year there has been a focus on the Europa League because that seems like their best chance of success. Of course we have the League Cup coming up in mid-week as well but they are out of this already.

'He (Wenger) elected to rest the A-Team tonight (against Forest) and now I can see it being a long season ahead for them.'

He is also tipping them for a long season ahead after their FA Cup exit to Nottingham Forest