Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City’s task to qualify for the Champions League has become clearer after Nottingham Forest’s win over West Ham.
Forest’s sensational and surprising bid for Champions League football has threatened to unravel in recent weeks, with Nuno Espirito Santo’s side winning just one of their last six games.
But the club produced an improved performance on Sunday, sealing a 2-1 win at the London Stadium over a West Ham side who too have endured a miserable run despite beating Manchester United last weekend.
Morgan Gibbs-White has enjoyed a brilliant season at the City Ground and continued his fine form with an 11th-minute opener against out-of-sorts West Ham.
Nikola Milenkovic’s second-half header all but put the game to bed as Forest boosted their Champions League hopes with a 19th win of the season despite Jarrod Bowen’s late consolation goal.
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The victory leaves seventh-placed Forest on 65 points ahead of the final day of the season and with the possibility or leapfrogging all of Manchester City, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Newcastle United.
England’s strong UEFA co-efficient score this season means the top five in the final Premier League table and the winners of the Europa League final (either Manchester United or Tottenham) will all play in the Champions League next season.
Champions League permutations
Premier League top-seven
- Liverpool (83 points)
- Arsenal (68 points, two games remaining)
- Newcastle United (66 points, two games remaining)
- Chelsea (66 points)
- Aston Villa (66 points)
- Manchester City (65 points, two games remaining)
- Nottingham Forest (62 points)
What Arsenal need to qualify for the Champions League
- Arsenal need one point to guarantee their place in the 2025-26 Champions League
- But even if they fail to secure another point, Arsenal will still likely qualify depending on results elsewhere
Fixtures:
- Arsenal vs Newcastle (Sunday, 4.30pm, May 18)
- Southampton vs Arsenal (Sunday, 4pm, May 25)
Current position:
What Chelsea need to qualify for the Champions League
- Beating Nottingham Forest would guarantee their place in the 2025-26 Champions League
- A draw would be enough if Man City or Aston Villa failed to win on the final day
- A loss could be enough depending on Man City and Aston Villa’s final results
Fixtures:
- Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea (Sunday 4pm, May 25)
Current position: 4th (66 points)
What Man City need to qualify for the Champions League
- Beating Bournemouth and Fulham would guarantee their place in the 2025-26 Champions League
- Four points would likely be enough, three and two may be
- Anything less and Man City would fail to qualify for the Champions League and drop into the Europa League
Fixtures:
- Man City vs Bournemouth (Tuesday, 8pm, May 20)
- Fulham vs Man City (Sunday, 4pm, May 25)
Current position: 6th (65 points)
Arsenal are not only battling for Champions League football but their status as the second-best team in the Premier League for the third year in a row.
Paul Merson, the former Gunners star, believes it is ‘important’ for Arsenal to secure second-place while booking their place in the Champions League.
‘I think is it,’ he said on Sky Sports. ‘Just to stay consistent, I think it’s important.
‘If they fizzle out and finish third or fourth it won’t look very good. You want to leave it positive and then you can go and buy some players and improve the squad this summer.’
Who gets Europa League?
The team that finishes sixth in the Premier League and the winners of the FA Cup will qualify for the Europa League.
Defending Premier League champions Man City are currently sixth but still have two games remaining to catch up with the likes of Aston Villa and Chelsea.
Pep Guardiola’s side were beaten by Crystal Palace in Saturday’s FA Cup final meaning Oliver Glasner’s Eagles will compete in Europe next season.
More to follow…
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