Former Arsenal striker Ellen White has said the club “need” to qualify for the Women’s Champions League, and have players capable of challenging for the trophy.
The Gunners trail Swedish side BK Hacken 1-0 after the first leg of their qualifier and host them in the return leg on Thursday.
Jonas Eidevall’s team drew their Women’s Super League (WSL) opener 2-2 in an entertaining encounter with Manchester City on Sunday, but missed key chances.
“They need to really be attacking and clinical in front of goal,” White told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Women’s Football Weekly podcast.
“They will be buoyant from the performance against City at the weekend. It’s a lot of pressure, but they understand the pressure and the players and staff want to be in the Champions League.
“As a player you want to go up for every trophy possible. The calibre of players they have, they should be challenging for the Champions League and should be in the group stage.”
Hacken scored from their only shot on target against Arsenal on Wednesday, and White expects another tough test at Meadow Park.
“We have to give credit to BK Hacken for the progression they have had over the last couple of seasons,” she said.
“They got to the quarter-finals of the Champions League last season so you can’t dismiss them.
“Arsenal need to be in the Champions League and fighting on all fronts. It will be a huge disappointment for them not to be in those group stages.”
The Gunners must go through two rounds of qualification to reach the group stage of this season’s showpiece after finishing third in the WSL last season, and have beaten Rangers and Rosenborg so far.