An all-English Europa League final is an enticing prospect for most Premier League neutrals but the knock-on effect could put one group of fans into an unpleasant position.
Arsenal was eliminated from the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday. The Gunners will conclude the season without any trophies and must now secure a spot in next season’s Champions League through the Premier League.
The top five teams in the standings will qualify for the Champions League, providing a safety net for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, as well as for Chelsea. Currently, Chelsea occupies the crucial fifth position, two points ahead of Nottingham Forest, with three matches remaining. Arsenal sits in second place, six points clear of several teams below them.
Qualification should not pose a challenge for the Gunners; however, if Chelsea also secures their place, the Europa League final becomes relevant. The supporters of Arsenal have no affection for either Tottenham Hotspur or Manchester United, and the final in Bilbao will be uncomfortable viewing for them regardless of the outcome.
Yet, if they believe they are uninvolved in the competition, they may need to reconsider their stance by the end of the Premier League season. Spurs and Manchester United will face off in the Basque Country, both aiming to salvage a disappointing season.
A European trophy in Ange Postecoglou’s second season at Tottenham would serve as a significant achievement despite a lackluster performance in the Premier League. For United, winning silverware in Ruben Amorim’s initial partial season would suggest the potential to steer the struggling giant back on course.
The prospect of one of these tumultuous clubs earning a Champions League spot for the upcoming season is perplexing in itself; however, the notion of Arsenal supporters rooting for their fierce local adversaries, even in a match against the despised Red Devils, is challenging to fathom.
Fortunately, the rationale that supports this situation has already been established.
What happens to Arsenal if Man Utd win the Europa League?
Should Chelsea fail to secure a position in the Champions League and conclude the season outside the top five, Arsenal supporters may find themselves hoping, albeit in vain, for both teams to lose in the Europa League final. Conversely, if Manchester City maintains their position in third place and Chelsea secures a Champions League spot, they will enter Pot 1 for the 2025-26 league phase based on their UEFA coefficient points.
With six of the nine current Pot 1 clubs already qualified, the inclusion of City and Chelsea would leave either Manchester United or Arsenal to claim the final position. Should United win the Europa League, they would ascend to Pot 1, relegating Arsenal to Pot 2. If Tottenham triumphs over Amorim’s team in the final, Arsenal would then assume their place.
In theory, teams in Pot 1 are expected to face less challenging fixtures during the extensive league phase.
Come on you Spurs?
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