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Arsenal would treat Europa League with respect - Arsene Wenger

Arsene Wenger says his Arsenal side would take the Europa League seriously if they drop out of the Champions League.

The Gunners entertain Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday night with their hopes of progressing from Group F hanging in the balance after three defeats from their opening four games.

Arsenal know they must win to keep any chance of getting out of the group stages alive and, even then, anything other than a victory for Bayern Munich over Olympiakos in Germany would see Wenger's side eliminated.

However, they could finish third and drop into the Europa League.

In the past, the Europa League has been treated as a lower priority by a number of English clubs, but Wenger would follow in the footsteps of clubs on the continent.

"We would take the competition seriously -- but we are not out [of the Champions League] yet," he said.

"I believe that this problem is exaggerated a little bit in England because we play Wednesday and Saturday, so it is the same as Thursday and Sunday. I can't see the difference.

"There are plenty of examples in Portugal and Spain where teams have taken it seriously and won the championship. Benfica are the example, Sevilla have done well."

Wenger also rebuffed suggestions that Bayern and Olympiakos could play out a draw at the Allianz Arena that would see both sides qualify at Arsenal's expense.

"If Bayern don't win they could still be second in the group because they go to Zagreb where they can lose," he said.

"In front of their crowd they will want to win. That will be really Machiavellian to think they will deliberately lose [sic] to get us out."

Arsenal's stuttering Champions League campaign started with a 2-1 defeat in Zagreb, with Olivier Giroud sent off.

After the match, Dinamo midfielder Arijan Ademi failed a drugs test and has since been handed a four-year ban by UEFA.

While his club will look to appeal, Wenger has said he is surprised the Croatian champions are still in the competition and questioned why UEFA rules mean there is no way of disqualifying them.

Meanwhile, Arsenal legend Robert Pires has said his former side's difficulties in Europe this season have been down to their struggles against the counter-attacking approach adopted by Dinamo Zagreb and Olympiakos.

Asked to explain the Gunners' troubles, Pires told Omnisport: "First, this is simple and we have evidence that when you play against Zagreb, for example, you always have to attack.

"Sometimes you even forget to defend and, generally, in this case -- and it happened -- you are subject to counter-attacks. And with the level of the Champions League, even against Zagreb or Olympiakos, it gives you complicated situations.

"On the other hand, when you play a team with the same level as you, a team which is similar to you, even if Bayern are better than Arsenal, I mean a team which attacks and allows you opportunities, it gives you space.

"And for a team like Arsenal, it's wonderful. It happened [against Bayern] at the Emirates Stadium. And that is a reason why Arsenal is now the only one that beat Bayern Munich.

"So, to conclude, Arsenal play better against teams like Bayern Munich than against teams like Olympiakos, who play defensively and who don't allow you space and catch you on the counter-attack."