Arsenal’s place in next season’s UEFA Women’s Champions League was secured without kicking a ball in the league this weekend, thanks to Manchester City’s draw against Everton.
The day after Arsenal narrowly lost 2-1 to Lyon in their Champions League semi-final first leg at the Emirates, the league campaign took a turn in their favour.
Manchester City, the only realistic challengers for the final European qualification spot, failed to gain enough ground after being held against Everton, mathematically confirming Arsenal Women‘s return to Europe’s top competition next season on goal difference.
It was a somewhat anticlimactic confirmation, but a vital one nonetheless. Renee Sleger‘s side remain second in the FA Women’s Super League, three points behind Chelsea, who have a game in hand.
However, with only three matches remaining, and a vastly superior goal difference over City (+17 v +40), Arsenal’s tally of 45 points makes them uncatchable by Nick Cushing‘s team, who sit on 36 points.
Arsenal’s return to the Champions League is now guaranteed, regardless of how their run in the competition concludes, barring a 23-goal swing in the final three matches and a total collapse by the Gunners against their final league opponents – Aston Villa (a), Brighton (a), and Man United (h).