Interesting

[Dunny]

REVEALED: Arsenal and Chelsea face London play-off for automatic Champions League spot if they end season with identical records


By Paul Collins
PUBLISHED:09:06, 15 May 2013| UPDATED:09:35, 15 May 2013

Arsenal and Chelsea face the prospect of ending the season level on points and goal difference meaning there would be a one game play-off to decide who finishes third in the Premier League.


Arsenal's 4-1 win over Wigan means that the Gunners moved onto 70 points and goal difference of 34 with goals scored at 71 for the season.




Heading for fourth: Lukas Podolski celebrates after scoring against Wigan





Record breaker: Chelsea's Frank Lampard helps his side move up to third

This means that if Chelsea were to draw 0-0 with Everton at Stamford Bridge on the final day and Arsene Wenger's side beat Newcastle 2-1 then they will be all square.

With third place in the Premier League qualifying for the group stages of the Champions League rather than having to go through a qualifier, it means finishing third is a big advantage.





Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz2TLnYXnuX
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

[Karl]

Additional clarification on how play-off may be required -

Premier League: Chelsea and Arsenal may have to play-off for third place

Last Updated: May 15, 2013 12:11pm



Chelsea and Arsenal: London rivals could meet in Premier League play-off

Arsenal's heavy defeat of Wigan on Tuesday night has opened up the possibility of a play-off for third place in the Premier League.

The 4-1 win over the FA Cup winners moved the Gunners back into fourth place, ahead of fierce rivals Spurs, and it means a win at Newcastle on the final day of the season will guarantee them UEFA Champions League football.

It also meant they closed the gap on third-placed Chelsea to two points and left the chance that a not inconceivable set of results on Sunday would see them end the season level on points, goal difference and goals scored.

Under Premier League rules, if qualification for a competition cannot be determined by any of those criteria, the sides involved must play one another at a neutral venue either once or twice.

Third place in the Premier League gains automatic qualification for the Champions League group stage with the team finishing fourth going into the play-off round.

Top four betting

Will a play-off be necessary to decide who gets third place?

Going into the final set of games, which Chelsea host Everton, the Blues are two points ahead, have a goal difference advantage of one over their London rivals and have scored two more goals.

But that would only mean a combination of a 0-0 draw for Chelsea and a 2-1 win for Arsenal putting them level on all three criteria, the same applying for a 1-1 Chelsea draw and a 3-2 Arsenal win, and so on.

As well as the possible battle for third place, Tottenham are waiting in the wings for Arsenal to slip up on the final day, when a Gunners defeat and Spurs victory at home to Sunderland would see them steal fourth and leave Arsenal playing in the Europa League next season.

The potential play-off could pose scheduling problems for the Premier League with Chelsea due to jet off for a post-season tour next week while England are playing friendlies against the Republic of Ireland on May 29 and Brazil on June 2.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/n...or-third-place