Former Arsenal forward Charlie Nicholas has urged Arsene Wenger to announce his exit from the Gunners if the club reach the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

Arsenal have had a difficult few weeks, but the London club are in a strong position to advance to the final eight of the Europa League following a 2-0 victory at AC Milan in the first leg of their last-16 tie.

The Gunners will look to finish the job in front of their own supporters on Thursday night, and Nicholas has said that Wenger should announce that he will leave at the end of the season if he secures a spot in the next round of Europe's second competition.

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Wenger has been widely criticised throughout the season, but Nicholas believes that the Frenchman could still leave on a positive note if he secures the Europa League title, which would see the club earn a spot in the 2018-19 Champions League.

Nicholas told Sky Sports:

"It might be the right time to get through, be in the draw, see where it gets you on Friday and then make an announcement I would suggest 'this will be my last campaign'.

"I'm all in for the Europa League which means we will get to the Champions League format and try and leave it on a good feel factor and we can applaud him when he is ready to go.

"I don't whether he will listen to me and that will come through but I think that is what is required at the football club."

Wenger was widely tipped to leave Arsenal at the end of last season after missing out on a top-four finish, but the Frenchman ultimately penned a new two-year contract with the Gunners.