Arsenal's focus is now on the Europa League, says boss Unai Emery, after his lacklustre side's hopes of a top-four Premier League finish were effectively ended by a draw with Brighton.

The Gunners are three points behind Tottenham in fourth with one game to play but would need an eight-goal swing, as well as results going their way, to overtake their rivals.

Barring that highly improbable scenario, Arsenal will need to win the Europa League to play in the Champions League next season and take a 3-1 advantage into their semi-final second-leg in Valencia on Thursday.

"We knew it was going to be difficult but our focus is now the Europa League," Emery, who won the competition three times in a row with Sevilla, told BBC Sport.

"We have the opportunity in the Europa League to do something important and we will try and do that."

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put Arsenal in front at Emirates Stadium with a ninth-minute penalty after Alireza Jahanbakhsh was judged to have fouled Nacho Monreal despite appearing to get the ball.

Aside from occasional bursts, Emery's side were shaky and sloppy, with Granit Xhaka committing an absurd foul on Solly March to concede a penalty that Glenn Murray converted on 61 minutes.

Arsenal frantically searched for a winner but Aubameyang volleyed wide from seven yards out and Brighton keeper Mat Ryan made a series of fine saves.

Pascal Gross could have won the game for Brighton late on but skewed his effort out towards the sideline with the goal unmanned after Bernd Leno's superb save from March, while the visitors withstood another flurry from Arsenal in the final stages.

Sloppy Arsenal fail to scrape through
Looking to avoid a fourth straight Premier League defeat, Arsenal made a bright start in attack, though were fortunate to be awarded a penalty, despite referee Anthony Taylor being well placed, with replays showing Jahanbakhsh got to the ball before Monreal fell.

Still, an early lead through Aubameyang's 20th league goal of the season should have allowed the hosts to exert control over the game, but instead they became nervy and vulnerable.

Goalkeeper Leno sent an abysmal clearance straight to March before recovering to save Murray's free header moments later, while Stephan Litchtsteiner, making his first appearance since late February, was frequently exposed.

There was another promising spell at the end of the first half, with Aubameyang, Shkodran Mustafi and Henrikh Mkhitaryan testing Ryan, but Arsenal's inability to create clear chances gave Brighton increasing confidence in finding an equaliser.

Even then it took a staggeringly poor decision by Xhaka. Running behind the surging March inside the area, the Switzerland midfielder initially held up his hands to indicate he was not touching the Brighton forward only to then whack his shoulder and concede a penalty.

And so a game Arsenal should perhaps have dictated against an opposition who were already guaranteed Premier League survival became a manic attempt to salvage a dispiriting end to the league season.

They came close to scraping a winner but could not do it, the lap of honour conducted with glum faces as the Gunners must now focus on winning the club's first European trophy since 1994.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48081948

As a Barca fan, it pains me to see Arsenal slipping out of UCL year in year out. This was a team that had EPL on stand still in the days of Henry and co.

Most times I blame Wenger for everything they go through. Just like I blame Ferguson for putting MANU in this mess.



Hopefully they win. And we get to see them in UCL.

Stupid coach. This guy no better pass wenger

He is an idiot.

With his bunch of stupid players like Mustafi, Xhaka, Mkhitaryan, Lichtsteiner. Even Aubameyang is stupid for wasting too many chances begining from that penalty miss at Spurs

We have lost top 4 to them. The players for being so stupid

The coach for not taking one or two matches serious, making us drop points that would have been vital at this stage.

Screw them all

Now who them one win for Europa...Chelsea? E go teeeh.

I think wenger is still the best

Aha they r wailing ooooooo
cry baby
assnal
biko settle for Europa League please

please stop calling this coach names.. he is a good coach....

Arsenal!!

What a club?!

shuttox:
I think wenger is still the best

REALLY!?

I Wonder what their focus would be after losing Europa.

Emery + ole gunner and sarri na true definition of failure

Emmariks:
Now who them one win for Europa...Chelsea? E go teeeh.

I tire ooo...dis season Chelsea go carry d Europa next season Chelsea will definitely dominate d champions league.... na we get am

So, they have been focusing on the Europa?

Ok. Let me say they focused on top 4, failed. Now, they are focusing on Europa. I hope they will not fail.

Confusing Club...

We Really Need That Cup

we played the last big match wen we won Man UTD but after then,the likes of loss to Everton,Crystal palace,wolves and Leicester was rubbish,we could have taken at least 6 points from those matches to seal up our top 4 spot but no thanks to Emery as he blew it up.

I pray we win the Europa cup.

Man u
Arsenal
Chelsea


Very very disappointing this season...sloppy and pathetic to watch

inexperience and quak coach....his 3 changes at d sametime killd d rhymes of the match
bringing in Guandozi for xhaka is foolishness in d highest order....

I just wish Chelsea will have mercy on Arsenal & allow them win Europa so they can both be in Champions League next season.

most times I wonder what man united fans are going through just then, I look at arsenal and heave a sigh of relief......

Freshbaba95:
Stupid coach. This guy no better pass wenger

at least arsenal was top 4 contender,Wenger wasnt

emeernest:

I just wish Chelsea will have mercy on Arsenal & allow them win Europa so they can both be in Champions League next season.

even if Chelsea wins,arsenal will replace Chelsea as English top 4..cos Chelsea will automatically qualify as Europa winner

martineverest:
even if Chelsea wins,arsenal will replace Chelsea as English top 4..cos Chelsea will automatically qualify as Europa winner

martineverest:
even if Chelsea wins,arsenal will replace Chelsea as English top 4..cos Chelsea will automatically qualify as Europa winner

Wrong

Stupid fools. Yeye coach, arindin players. What happened to making top 4, yet winning Europa league?

oyebi:


Wrong

Who told u its wrong

caracas:

Who told u its wrong

The only automatic CL qualification for 5th place is via Europa League win.