Finance guru: Arsenal handed Champions League ‘lifeline’ after Uefa ruling
Arsenal have been handed a potential “lifeline” in terms of qualification for the Champions League in future seasons.
That is the view of finance expert Doctor Dan Plumley, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about Uefa’s reboot of their flagship competition set to be rolled out ahead of 2024-25.
Places in the new 36-team format were due to be handed out according to individual clubs’ 10-year Uefa coefficients.
But The Times reported last Tuesday (10 May) that spots will now instead be awarded based on a country’s European performance the previous year.
It is understood that this would likely lead to the Premier League securing a fifth spot in the competition.
Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat at Newcastle United on Monday (16 May) means they are relying on Tottenham to lose to already-relegated Norwich City on the final day of the season to make it into the top four.
But Plumley claims they will be relieved that the new system will act as a “safety net” in years to come.
“It certainly helps,” the Sheffield Hallam University expert told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“Whichever way you spin the Champions League reforms, it was always going to benefit big Premier League clubs.
“This is a bonus for the ‘big six’, and if you look at the league table at the moment, it is the ‘big six’.
“Two of those at the moment have to miss out and this scenario could see only one of them miss out. Certainly for Arsenal, it’s a safety net or a lifeline for years to come.”
Arsenal take on Everton on the final day of the season knowing that their fate is no longer in their hands.
They have not competed in the Champions League since the 2016-17 seasons.
In other news, ex-Premier League referee swipes at Cedric Soares as controversial Arsenal footage analysed.