Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker says avoiding a Champions League qualifier will be crucial for next season.

The Gunners can secure automatic qualification with victory over Manchester United.

"[It would be] very important because, when you look at the schedule, the break will not be that much," said Mertesacker. "I think, even for non-international players, it is pretty weird.

"And we have a couple of under-21 players, a couple at the Copa America I think, so it will again be a tight schedule, so we'll try to really avoid that."