Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger believes that finishing 10th in the Premier League but still qualifying for the Champions League would represent his finest banter to date.

The Frenchman earned himself a stay of execution as he guided his Gunners side to a 2-0 first leg victory at AC Milan in the last 16 of the Europa League.

Winning that trophy would ensure entry into Europe’s premier club competition for next season, while a disastrous run of domestic form has opened up the possibility of a genuine mid-table finish.

Speaking exclusively to Football Burp, Wenger described the potential banter of finishing 10th yet qualifying for the Champions League as “irresistible”.

He said: “It would be my greatest banter to date, without a doubt – better than Bendtner, better than Welbeck.

“Better even than the three FA Cups that sent so many supporters off home with their ‘Wenger out’ banners between their legs.

“When you’ve won as much as I have in the game, you start to seek out new kinds of thrills and banter is something I’ve arrived at quite late in life.

“If I can revolutionise your English banter like I revolutionised your Premier League, I’ll retire a happy Frenchman.”