If you have not already heard, the European governing body has this week confirmed some rule changes that will affect Arsenal next season, unless we can somehow overhaul Chelsea and win the Premier League or unless we suffer a shocking collapse and fail to qualify for the Champions League at all.
What looks most likely, however, is that the Gunners will be in the hat for next season’s group stage but the new rules mean we will not be in the primary pot. That will now be filled with the title winners of the top seven European leagues; England, Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Portugal and Russia with the last place going to the holders or if the winners are also champions, the Dutch title holders.
There are two ways of looking at this though, because you could say that the team which won its league might be better than one who just happens to have a strong coefficient because of their country and past performances. But it does mean that Arsenal could be in the same group as real powerhouses like Bayern Munich and one of the Spanish giants.
Just when the Gunners are improving and hoping to win our group next season, this could be a real blow but we just have to cope with it and hope for a friendly draw. Now if the good people at Uefa could just change that pesky away goals rule that keeps causing Arsenal such pain……you listening Monsieur Platini?