Arsenal's Champions League nightmare that could see Gunners drop to play-offs
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Arsenal are sitting pretty on 16 points from their seven Champions League games - leaving them third in the new group phase. Only Liverpool and Barcelona are ahead of them as they eye another season in the knockouts of the European Cup. Their passage is all but secured - but doesn't allow for a nightmare final matchday where results could wildly go against them.
Mikel Arteta will have enough faith in his side, as will the fans, to laugh off this prospect, but a spot in the last 16 is not yet guaranteed. You can look as far down as Brest in 13th to find a team on 13 points - just three shy of Arsenal's total. The Gunners' big advantage is their goal difference, which currently stands at plus 12. It means the five teams sat on 13 points would need huge goal swings if they were to qualify in the top eight at Arsenal's expense.
Arsenal's final fixture is at Spanish minnows Girona. A team who have won one and lost six of their games in Europe this season. For the Gunners to miss out on a place in the top eight it would require, at least, a seven-goal swing. Aston Villa are in ninth and, after falling away slightly following an impressive start, could be the team to benefit. A situation exists where a 2-0 defeat for Arsenal at Girona and a 5-0 success for Unai Emery's men at home to Celtic would see them jump above their Premier League rivals.
