Taken from the Arsenal website So who could Arsenal face in a possible Champions League Play-Off? This is where it gets more complicated. There will be 20 teams in the Play-Off Round but they are split into two sections - champions and non-champions. As non-champions, Arsenal could not face a side that won its domestic title in 2010/11. That list includes Rangers or FC Copenhagen, assuming they are still in the competition. Arsenal's section of ten teams would feature: The five winners from the non-champion section of the Third Qualifying Round (expected to include Benfica, Dynamo Kyiv, Twente and Rubin Kazan) The fourth placed team from Spain (Villarreal) The fourth placed team from Italy (Udinese or Lazio) The third placed team from Germany (Bayern Munich) The third placed team from France (one from Marseilles, Lyon, Rennes, Sochaux and PSG) Once the ten clubs are confirmed, the five with the highest UEFA coefficients are seeded and will be drawn to play one of the five clubs with the lowest UEFA coefficients. Arsenal's coefficient is bettered only by Bayern Munich in the list of potential teams in the Play-Off Round so Wengerââ¬â¢s side would definitely be seeded if they entered the competition at that stage. As it stands, if all the seeded teams from the Third Qualifying Round advance to the Play-Off Round, Bayern, Arsenal, Benfica and Villarreal would be seeded. Unless Lyon finish third in France, the final seed would be Dynamo Kyiv. In that scenario, Arsenalââ¬â¢s potential Play-Off opponents could be Udinese or Lazio, Rubin Kazan, Twente, a further qualifier from the previous round plus the French qualifier - one from Marseilles, Rennes, Paris Saint-Germain and Sochaux. If Lyon do finish third in France, their coefficient would earn them a seeding. Therefore Arsenal's potential opponents could be Udinese or Lazio, Dynamo Kyiv, Rubin Kazan, Twente or a further qualifier from the previous round. With so many ifs, buts and maybes it's difficult to give a clear picture at present. But as various European leagues reach their climaxes this month this page will be updated - if indeed Arsenal do finish fourth. The worst-case scenario? Arsenal finish fourth, lose their Champions League Play-Off and enter the Group Stage of the UEFA Europa League.
im sure we would have a great chance and be favourites for europa cup though.... and group would be easy.
There's no way we won't qualify for the group stages. I was a little bit worried about the Celtic games a few seasons ago and we played really well. We will be fine.
Can't see Arsenal failing to qualify even if you do finish fourth. You guys generally start the season pretty well, so you should stroll through any of the teams mentioned above.
Surely that ain't the point. The point is.....we are the Mighty Arsenal and should not have to be qualifying for the Chamnpions League. Anyone care to tell M. Wenger his crazy yoof policy has blown up in his face? As for the Europa League. What the hell is it and what rewards does it bring? Porto won it this week and....er....umm...that's about it really. Were they even on the telly? And what do they get for it?......
Nah swarbs is right, we normally start the season really well. Even if we don't make any changes we will be a better team at the beginning of next season than we are now.
