What Arsenal now have to do to qualify for next season’s Champions League amid end-of-season slip

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Arsenal have made life a little more difficult for themselves after a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth.

Thomas Partey was dreadful in midfield amid his return to the side following a Champions League suspension for the first leg against PSG.

Mikel Arteta’s side are now embroiled in a race to qualify for next season’s competition with the top five in the Premier League automatically qualifying.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	LiverpoolLiverpool	35	25	7	3	81	35	46	82
2	ArsenalArsenal	35	18	13	4	64	31	33	67
3	Man CityManchester City	35	19	7	9	67	43	24	64
4	NewcastleNewcastle	35	19	6	10	66	45	21	63
5	ChelseaChelsea	35	18	9	8	62	41	21	63
6	Nottm ForestNottingham Forest	35	18	7	10	54	42	12	61

Chelsea’s victory over champions Liverpool closed the gap even further to the Gunners but Nottingham Forest’s draw with Crystal Palace has now left Arsenal with a very clear task in their remaining three fixtures.

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Arsenal’s Champions League permutation

With three games remaining in the league, Arsenal’s route into next season’s Champions League has become very clear following the latest round of results.

The Gunners require one victory from their remaining three fixtures in order to guarantee a top five finish and automatic qualification for next season’s most elite competition.

Of course, Arteta’s side are gunning for glory in the competition itself this season and Arsene Wenger has highlighted Arsenal’s advantage in having a clear mindset heading into the second leg in Paris.

However, once that tie is over, whether Arsenal make it through or not, they know they have important business to finish domestically before the campaign ends.

Arsenal will want to finish above Manchester City

Psychologically for Arsenal’s players, staff and fans, finishing above Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City would be a huge boos heading into next season’s title challenge.

City have edged out the Gunners in the last two campaigns for the title and currently sit three points behind in the race for second place.

Arsenal have the tougher fixtures on paper but do have the cushion of a superior goal difference and three points.

Whatever happens in Paris, the Gunners recent slump in the league has made their end of season campaign more challenging than it needed to be but they need to finish the job professionally.