The team that finishes fourth could be put into the Europa League « Untold Arsenal: Arsenal News, supporting the club, the players and the manager

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By Tony Attwood

Playing in the Champions League is part of our ability to attract new players.  Players want to play in the top league, and that combined with the money it brings in, means getting in the league is a Big Deal.

But according to a document that has circulated among the committee of Arsenal Independent Supporters Association, of which I am a member, this year things might be a bit different.

We all remember how in the past when Liverpool won the Champs League having come outside the top four the rules were suddenly changed to give them a place in the Champs League as defending champions.  Well it seems various changes were made at that point, and this season they could be important.

Here is the scenario being presented if Chelsea win the Champions League this season…

Chelsea finishes 1st/2nd/3rd:  

Champions League entry as normal

Chelsea finishes 4th: 

Top four all go straight to 2012/13 CL group stage

Chelsea finishes 5th or lower:  

4th placed club goes to the Europa League

You might want to look at that last one again.  Chelsea 5th, and the 4th team in the Premier League does not go into the Champions League.

If you want to know what that means, look at Liverpool.  Not only have they lost £20 million or so from the league, they now just have to rely on reputation to attract new players.  Don’t try and tell a top European star that you have won the league cup.  For all the noise the British press and the anti-Arsenal make about no trophies for 7 years, winning a domestic cup doesn’t count as much in the negotiations as a place in the Champions League.

As Liverpool have found, if you are not in the Champions League you can’t buy players from clubs who are in the Champions League.

Of course Arsenal’s position is nowhere near as awful as Liverpool, who just this week are looking at making an amazing £14m loss on Alberto Aquilani who is moving permanently to AC Milan.  But the news that 4th position doesn’t automatically mean a Champions League position shows how vital it is that we keep getting behind the team, and keep pushing for third.

Indeed it really is a strange position.  Tottenham coming fourth and Chelsea winning the Champs League would at least give us a laugh at Tottenham’s expense (as well as another St Totteridge Day to celebrate).  Arsenal coming fourth does not figure in my mind at all.

There are two big club fixtures left this season – Man City and Chelsea.  The rest are for the most part against lower clubs – games we should win.  But let us not count chickens.  We need to support the club at every moment, and get ourselves into that 3rd spot.   As long as Chelsea are in the Champs League, 4th is not an option.