Manchester United’s defeat by West Ham on Tuesday night was good news for Arsenal, who again qualified for Champions League football under Arsene Wenger.
Arsenal will play in Europe’s elite competition for the 19th successive season because they can finish no lower than fourth in the Barclays Premier League.
They sit third on 68 points ‒ five ahead of Louis van Gaal’s team who succumbed to two goals in the 76th and 80th minutes at Upton Park to leave them all but out of the race for a top-four finish.
For Arsenal to finish fourth they would need to lose to Aston Villa, while Manchester City would need to win away at Swansea City.
Finishing fourth is enough to earn a place in the final qualifying round of the Champions League, even if Liverpool do win their Europa League final against Sevilla.
For Manchester United to finish fourth they would need to beat Bournemouth, but hope that Manchester City lose at Swansea because of their inferior goal difference.
Leicester City have already been confirmed as champions and Tottenham Hotspur have been left to fight for second place.
Should Arsenal take at least a point from Villa they will be guaranteed third position and an automatic place in the Champions League group stage, extending Wenger’s run of successful qualifications to Europe’s premier competition into its 19th year.
It could get better for Arsenal. If Newcastle were to defeat Tottenham at St James’ Park a victory for the Gunners would earn second place for Wenger, leapfrogging his north London rivals in the process.
Jack Wilshere, the Arsenal midfielder, told his team-mates they have to be prepared for a tough fight against a side playing for pride when they host Aston Villa.
‘I don’t know what happened to Aston Villa this season but I don’t expect them to come and just let us beat them,’ Wilshere told the London Evening Standard.
‘We said a few weeks back that we don’t want to get fourth. We don’t want to have to face a qualifier. We want to be straight in there and enjoy the season without having to play a big game beforehand.’
West Ham United’s 3-2 victory over Manchester United has guaranteed Arsenal a top four finish and a place in the Champions League qualifying round.
Speaking after a 2-2 draw at Manchester City that left Arsenal well on course for a top three finish Wenger said: “It is in our hands now but we have seen again today that we just want to finish the job with the result. That shows you that we have to focus and keep the focus.
“It is important to maintain that. We have had strong concentration in recent games and our character has been questioned a few times this season.”
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