Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Hassan Rashed

How winning Europa League will affect Arsenal or Chelsea in Champions League draw

Arsenal face Premier League rivals Chelsea in the final of the Europa League on Wednesday night.

It is the first all-English clash of this year's European finals, with Liverpool taking on Tottenham in Saturday's Champions League final in Madrid.

Both games will be huge for the teams involved, as they present the last chance to end the season with some silverware after Manchester City completed a domestic clean-sweep.

Although Wednesday's Europa League showdown is a big one for both sides, it could make or break Arsenal's season.

The Gunners are currently set to miss out on next season's Champions League after finishing fifth in the Premier League - one point outside the top four.

Arsenal need to win in Baku to qualify for next season's Champions League (AFP/Getty Images)

It means that Unai Emery's side need to lift the trophy in Baku in order to book a place among Europe's elite next season.

Victory over the Blues will also give a much-needed boost to the Gunners' summer plans, with a win expected to result in an increase Emery's current budget of £40 million.

Meanwhile, Chelsea have their own incentives for winning the competition - and not just the prospect of winning some silverware.

Although Maurizio Sarri's side are already guaranteed to appear in Champions League after finishing third, the result in Azerbaijan will affect their seeding in next year's Group Stage draw.

That is because the winners of both the Europa League ad Champions League will earn a place in Pot 1.

They will join the champions of the top six ranked member countries in UEFA's rankings - Barcelona , Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and Zenit St Petersburg.

The winner of the Europa League will be in Pot 1 in the Champions League draw (EMPICS Sport)

That means that a Chelsea win will give Sarri's side an easier draw in next year's competition, at least on paper.

However, defeat will see the Blues placed in Pot 2 while Arsenal take the spot in the top pot.

It's not just next season's Champions League that will be affected by the result in Baku, with the result also impacting Europe's second-tier club competition.

If Arsenal win, just two English sides will be in the Europa League - Manchester United and Wolves .

A victory for Chelsea would see three sides in the competition - Arsenal, United and Nuno Espirito Santo's men.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.