If we finish 4th, will we face Bayern Munich in the Champions League play-off round?
May 19, 2011 8 Comments
We are assured Champions league football, but how will we get to the group stages?
Arsenal face the very real possibility of finishing fourth. We have to better City’s result on the weekend to stop this happening. Frankly, although it is possible, I doubt that we will. Even if City do drop points, our recent form suggests that we will not be able to take advantage of it. So, what happens if we finish 4th? We will (like 2 seasons ago) enter the play-off round of the Champions League. We will play two legs against an opponent from the following list:
Benfica, Dynamo Kyiv, Twente, Rubin Kazan, Villarreal, Udinese/Lazio, Bayern Munich and one from Marseilles/Lyon/Rennes/Sochaux/PSG
It is worth noting that this list is not finalised. These are the teams that are expected to make it to this stage of the competition. Bayern Munich is clearly the team to avoid. Amidst the doom and gloom of our frustrating end to the season, there is a silver lining. We will be playing champions league football next year, and we will not have to face the likes of Robben in order to make it to the group stages. Once the teams are confirmed, the UEFA coefficient will seed the top five teams. Each of the top 5 teams each be matched against one of the bottom 5 teams. Arsenal’s coefficient will only be bettered by that of Bayern’s, so we will definitely be seeded. Hence, it is not possible for us to play them. This means that it is highly likely that we will play one of the following teams:
Udinese/Lazio, Rubin Kazan, Twente, a team that has progressed from a previous champions league play-off round, and one from Marseilles/Rennes/Paris Saint-Germain/Sochaux.
This information makes for better reading. That said, even if we are to face a team such as Twente, this does not necessarily grant us automatic entrance to the group stages. We still need to win the tie, and if we fail to do so, we will enter the group stages of the Europa league (surely not…). Of couse, a lot of what I have said in this article is rather hypothetical. For all I know, we could still finish third and not have to worry about any of this. Let’s hope that we can finish the season with a win and overtake CIty.
benmonty
capious5
dannywirth
Straight Talking Gooners 
I Pray so with bayern munich on the list it means europa league 4 us bcus our defence cannot march them we need good strikers and defenders 2 contend 4 the champions league group stage
Dont b afraid arsenal,munich,villareal,benfica are go 2 be top-seeded. Even,if we are 2 face them dat’s not a problem. Arsenal knw hw 2 deal with big team.
So you in all honesty believe City will lose or draw with Birmingham? It will not happen cos
1. City knows the importance of winning the match.
2. I want Birmingham related not cos they beat us in CC but cos they are dirty. I just hope either of Wolves or Blackburn follow them to where they belong.
As for us, if Wenger is going to buy the right players then I will pray we qualify if not, we shouldn’t maybe that will force the board’s hand to either sack Wenger ( not what I want ) or force him to buy the right players.
it will never happen,wenger must talk to dis player so dat we can finish 3rd position but it happen i belive if we go to market dis summer and buy quality players in all position,no team will be able to withstand us
i beg mr wenger 2buy at least 5players 4strenghtn up our team next seasn but i don’t pray we shld finiz 4th.
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Wenger should sell any payer dat want 2 leave…and try 2 buy better replacement.
Baba wenger pls,am well known arsenal fan,and i have been making jest of…try 2 buy @ least 5 matured players and haulout some players,especially fabrigas & clichy