Arsenal will take part in the Champions League next season alongside Chelsea and Manchester City

On Sunday, Arsenal defeated Leicester 3-0 and have opened an 11 point gap over Manchester United and Liverpool with three games to go.

There is still a mathematical, but unrealistic chance, of winning the title with Manchester City six points ahead and a better goal difference. Chelsea are three points ahead but also have a game in hand and a better goal difference too.

It all points to a second season in a row of third place and a Continental Cup trophy.

For the last game of the season at the Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal overall had an amazing 312,016 fans though the turnstiles, Jonas Eidevall had a few injured players including an unannounced Lotte Wubben-Moy.

It meant Steph Catley was selected as left centre-back and Katie McCabe at left-back.

The Arsenal manager kept faith in his Russo-Blackstenius pairing.

The bench was a bit unbalanced with two goalkeepers, five defenders, and three forwards. The starting XI was Zinsberger; Fox, Williamson. Catley, McCabe; Pelova, Little; Mead, Russo, Blackstenius, Foord.

Manuela Zinsberger had a Player Of The Match performance in goal, making crucial saves to keep a clean sheet and prevent a Leicester fightback before the final quarter of an hour when Arsenal scored twice to close the game.

Steph Catley was excellent at centre-back, while Emily Fox had a good game at right-back. Beth Mead got a brace and Alessia Russo got one goal as well. The game saw the return from short-term injuries as substitutes from Miedema, Maanum and Codina.

Now that Champions League has been secured, there is much-needed clarity around player recruitment. The big players will all want to play Champions League football next season, so qualification has a huge impact on potential signings.

There is a clear need to improve the squad next season if the club wants to compete in all four competitions and maybe even qualify for the first-ever FIFA Club Women’s World Cup. A squad of 25 players is definitely be a must considering the needs for rotation and also the injury risk with players overloaded due to more games being played with less rest.

I can see a few trends for the summer transfer window: Improving certain positions by bringing in new players on the left wing, at left-back, and at centre-forward.

• Potentially extend contracts for those out of contract by June 30, if the club wants to renew those players.
• Decide for the high potential youngsters if they are ready to compete for a place in the 25 player squad or send them on loan.
• Sell certain players to make space for ones that are better suited to the club’s needs.

There will be some hard decisions to make and some fans’ favourites might leave the club, but that’s the life of any football club looking for excellence on the pitch.

Arsenal certainly have to be in the Champions League Group Stage and compete for the League title, too.

And this will only happen with more quality added to the squad.