Arsene Wenger warns Chelsea playing in Europe next season will make Premier League title defence more difficult

The Blues secured the title on Friday evening with two games to spare, a second in three years, and did so with the benefit of not playing in the Champions League or the Europa League

Arsene Wenger doesn't think Chelsea will find things as easy next season (Getty)

Arsene Wenger has warned Chelsea that next season will be more difficult with the extra burden of European football.

The Blues secured the Premier League title on Friday evening with two games to spare, a second in three years, and did so with the benefit of not playing in the Champions League or the Europa League.

They will not have such a luxury next year and will have to balance their title defence with a tilt at the Champions League, something Wenger believes will be an added challenge for Antonio Conte's team.

"Chelsea have done well. Congratulations to them," he said. "But in the last two seasons, a team that hasn't played in Europe has won the league.

"It will be a different season because they will have to play Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday due to Champions League matches.

"I feel in Spain, Real Madrid can win games by playing some at a lower percentage of the maximum than you can in England. Maybe they are, as well, better than us.

"Bayern is similar - they dominate the German championship in a very easy way."

Arsenal lie fifth with two games of the season remaining as they bid to make the top four once again and know they likely will need to win both, against Sunderland and Everton, to have any chance of securing Champions League qualification for next season.

Victory at Stoke on Saturday made it five wins in their last six and Wenger believes his team are getting better as the season comes to a close.

“I am very positive because it looks like we get stronger in every game. We have to dig deep and fight in every game," he added.

“We won six of the last seven games. We look strong again away from home.”