Alex Ferguson’s men are five points clear at the top of the Premiership with three games to play but would need to lift themselves quickly for Saturday’s derby at Manchester City should they lose in Italy.

Arsenal boss Wenger, who saw his side’s form dip after their Champions League exit this season, said: “The team that goes out of the Champions League now - whether it’s Manchester United or Chelsea or Liverpool – they will have a little dip because it’s like losing someone from your family.

“You need time to recover from that. The team who goes out will suffer in the championship. That is for sure.”

The Gunners were knocked out of the Champions League at the last-16 stage earlier this season and then won once in five games.

Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann believes Arsenal will be among the contenders for Europe’s top prize this time next year, one of the reasons why he signed a new contract until the end of the next campaign.

“Europe is important to me,” he told the club’s official website, www.arsenal.com. “I said before there are clubs in Germany who might qualify for the Champions League but you can’t win it with them.

“You have to have at least the prospect of being involved in a big decision at the end of next year. And we nearly were there before.

“We are among the teams who can win it along with the other English teams.

“Barcelona, Real Madrid might be stronger next year, AC Milan we have to see and Inter Milan are a good prospect as well. I think they are the teams who can actually win it.”

Meanwhile, Theo Walcott looks set to be part of Arsenal’s campaign next season after Coventry distanced themselves from a loan deal for the 18-year-old.

Sky Blues assistant manager Tim Flowers told the Coventry Telegraph: “Theo Walcott? It is a great rumour, but no.”