QUALIFICATION IS VITAL: Wenger is determined to reach the Champions League for the 17th season running [AFP]

The Gunners boss revealed he is already planning to rebuild his under-performing squad for next season.

Wenger's men dropped out of the top four and the Champions League qualifying spots on Saturday when Everton overtook them.

And Wenger admits Arsenal had wrongly assumed a 17th season in a row in Europe was a certainty.

"Maybe, yes, we felt that it was done," said the Frenchman, ahead of tonight's visit of West Ham.

"It is vital. It is vital for the young players as well. You learn more by playing against Bayern or Barcelona or Real Madrid than if you play in the Europa League.

"It's vital to me to do it. I want this club to play in the top level competition. For that you want to be in the Champions League.

"What will be an advantage is our desire to play in this competition because we love the Champions League and just to imagine how much we love it will help us to achieve it.

"The pain of not having it? I would like them rather to concentrate on the pleasure to be in it."

Arsenal reached the FA Cup final on Saturday but have been shaken by a poor league run, which has seen them pick up just nine points out of the last nine games.

JOY, FOR NOW: Arsenal celebrate reaching the FA Cup final, but have a job on their hands to reach the Champions League [GETTY]

"We have had a difficult schedule and the weight of a negative result, the mental aspect of a negative result in a big game, is massive," said Wenger.

"To deal with that is very difficult and, when you have a succession of big games one after the other, if you lose the first one you are always in trouble.

"Our confidence has been jaded, you are a bit more on the back foot at the start of a game."

Wenger confirmed he is drawing up a shopping list for next season

"We are really focused and working very hard (on that)," he said. "Every day we spend time on that."

Wenger admits West Ham, with their physical style, are not the best team to face just three days after their semi-final penalty shoot-out win over Wigan.

"It's not welcome but on the other hand it's better to play them with a positive feeling after that semi-final," he said.

"If we had gone out it would really have been terrible."