Arsenal are preparing for make or break in the Europa League final, as they aim to secure a spot in next season’s Champions League.
After missing out on a top-four finish in the Premier League, beating Chelsea in Azerbaijan now stands as the only route available for the Gunners to return to Europe’s elite competition.
Doing so would provide a significant boost in revenue and the transfer funds available for Unai Emery this summer - but there is also an extra incentive for Arsenal.
UEFA’s rules for the Champions League group stage draw dictate that the winners of the Europa League will be seeded in pot 1 for the draw - which would put Arsenal alongside some of the continent’s bigger clubs.
Manchester City, Juventus, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Zenit St. Petersburg are guaranteed to be in that pot, along with the winners of the Bundesliga, Champions League and Europa League.
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That means Arsenal would avoid those big hitters by winning the Europa League and securing a spot alongside them in pot 1, although there are still some big names to avoid.
Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, Napoli and Roma are all set for pot 2, along with either Borussia Dortmund or Bayern Munich - depending on who emerges triumphant in this weekend’s Bundesliga finale.
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Therefore, the draw would be difficult for Arsenal either way but avoiding the likes of Barcelona and PSG, both of whom will be among the favourites next season, would be a welcome boost.
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