Arsenal could lose Champions League place from 2024

Arsenal and their ‘friends’ are set to be punished for their actions in the recently dissolved Super League by having their – at present best – chance of entry into the Champions League from 2024 scrapped.

A most pathetic attempt at a coup lasted less than 48 hours as all 12 founding members of the breakaway Super League were left fleeing with their tails between their legs having submitted their resignation from the controversial division.

The league would have acted as the participating clubs’ own version of the Champions League, one that would have ensured all founding clubs were spared of ever being relegated, regardless of their performance in the division or placing in their domestic leagues.

It was crafted in direct competition to UEFA’s reforming of the Champions League, one that came into effect on Monday and will see the competition altered to introduce a 36-team single league format as opposed to the current group stages. Beginning in 2024, fixtures will be played on Thursdays and include a play-off format added to the first stage. In total there will be 100 more fixtures, with each side playing a minimum of ten.

Arsenal would lose Champions League place from 2024 as coefficient entry could be scrapped

In order to qualify for the tournament the same system will be implemented via domestic league finish, but with four extra spots in the competition awarded. Those will be determined via coefficient scores, with two VIP style ESL entries, but importantly two will be granted to those who didn’t automatically qualify based on historical performance – sounds strangely familiar, no?

As it stands, Arsenal are 11th in the rankings – regular visits to the latter stages of the Europa League is why they rank high – with every side above them having featured in this season’s elite European club competition.

So, under the new format if Arsenal don’t qualify for the Champions League outright and continue to perform well (in coefficient terms) in the Europa League, their place in 2024 is all-but certain.

But they can’t be let off the hook. They shouldn’t. And, as per The Times, the pressure is mounting on UEFA and the newly shaped ECA to scrap awarding coefficient places in the new format when it comes into effect in 2024. This is not directly aimed at Arsenal, of course, and is done with the aim of removing right of entry based on historical performance in UEFA competitions.

Instead, there is talk of awarding those places to clubs who win their respective leagues, such as either Celtic or Rangers.

Of course, Arsenal could qualify outright and earn their place, and if the coefficient system is replaced, they will have no choice.