Hector Bellerin insists Arsenal are in it to win it ahead of the start of their Europa League debut.

The Gunners kick-off their group stage campaign against Germans Cologne on Thursday night.

Arsene Wenger’s men ended up in the Europa League after failing to make the top four last season, finishing fifth.

The competition will be a come-down after the north Londoners' 20 successive years in the Champions League and it is one they could easily sacrifice to focus on bigger priorities — such as the Premier League.

Arsenal haven't played in UEFA's No2 club competition since the 1997-98 season (
Image:
Daily Mirror)

But right-back Bellerin sounded more interested in emulating Manchester United's triumph in the competition last season when said: “The Europa League is a very important competition for us.

“We know that if we have the possibility of winning it, we will return to the Champions League next year, which is one of our targets.

“It’s a competition that we know we can win and we’re going to go fight as much as in the other competitions to do it.

“Whoever plays, we are going to give our best.”

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