The Premier League want to reject a new Champions League qualification format that could have helped Arsenal qualify.

champions league trophy
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – MARCH 09: UEFA Champions League Trophy is displayed during the UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour presented by Heineken on March 09, 2018. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Earlier this month, reports suggested UEFA were considering a Champions League restructure which would include four extra spaces. One extra place would go to the French league, and others would be distributed according to coefficient rankings.

It would benefit Arsenal to have an extra place or two based on the coefficient. The Gunners are the highest-ranking team in Europe for coefficient if you exclude any clubs already in their league’s Champions League qualification spots.

But it doesn’t look like the Premier League are willing to allow the change. After a recent shareholder call, The Telegraph reports that Premier League clubs agreed to lobby UEFA for alterations on a number of key points in the restructure.

The 14 non-big-six clubs are particularly opposed to the changes, given they would mean more European fixtures – likely going to the big six. In turn, that means more money and a wider gap opening up between the best and the rest.

Unfortunately for them, the Premier League don’t have the power to veto the changes. They can ask for adjustments, but UEFA are always likely to go for whatever model will make the most money for the big clubs, to ward off the possibility of a super league.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, all of the Premier League’s big-six clubs are reportedly in support of the changes.