Arsenal could drop into pot three for the Champions League draw following Atalanta’s win in the Europa League final.
The Gunners will look to go again in Europe’s premier competition next season after reaching the quarter-finals this term before losing to Bayern Munich 3-2 on aggregate.
They will however have to deal with a renovated format, involving a league stage rather than a group stage with teams playing eight different opponents in a bid to qualify for the knockout stages.
Italy, who have already been awarded a fifth Champions League spot due to their UEFA coefficient rating, could be handed a sixth spot depending on the final standings of the Serie A table.
That’s due to Atalanta’s 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday, which guaranteed Gian Piero Gasperini’s side a spot in next season’s top competition.
Arsenal could drop into pot three of the Champions League draw following Atalanta’s Europa League win
The Gunners are looking to impress again in Europe’s premier competition after reaching the quarter-final this season
Atalanta, meanwhile, will have a say on how the pots shape up after their win on Wednesday
Atalanta, who have won their last five Serie A matches, are set to finish at least fifth in the Italian league and, should they stay there, Roma, who are currently sixth in the league table, will also earn a Champions League spot.
The new Europa League champions are two points behind Juventus and Bologna in the table and could finish as high as third. They also have a game in hand on both sides, putting them in pole position to do just that.
Should they finish higher than fifth, Roma will play in the Europa League.
Roma’s situation will have a direct impact on Arsenal, due to the Gunners’ six-year absence from the Champions League before this season.
Daniele De Rossi’s side would move into the top seeding block for the Champions League should they qualify, due to their five-year coefficient score.
Roma’s qualification would knock Barcelona into pot two and Arsenal into pot three for the league stage draw, with teams set to play two opponents from each pot.
Atalanta’s game in hand, which is against Fiorentina, will be played after the final game of the season, leaving Roma with an anxious wait to find out their fate.
Due to the new format, the draw would be no harder for Mikel Arteta’s side, though it could make things more difficult for their opponents, eight of who will be dealt the Premier League runners-up.
Clubs cannot face teams from their own country in the league phase, meaning Arsenal won’t be able to play Manchester City, Liverpool or Aston Villa.
Roma have an anxious wait to find out whether they will play Champions League football
If Roma qualify, Barcelona will drop into pot two for the draw, rather than being in pot one
The new format for the Champions League will see 36 teams qualify for the competition rather than the usual 32, with both Italy and Germany earning extra spots through the increase in teams.
Teams involved will play eight matches, four home and four away, with the top eight teams to qualify for the last 16 automatically.
Those placed between ninth and 24th will face off in a two-legged play-off tie, with the remaining sides eliminated.
