There were few who believed that Arsenal would be in a top-four race this season let alone looking as if they would be the standout favourites to claim Champions League football. However, this is the reality and the ramifications of achieving it could be huge for the club.
In particular, Arsenal’s transfer activity will be positively affected on a large scale. The club want to try and close the gap to those clubs above them and elevate themselves back to the title-challenging level that made them the club they are today.
If Arsenal win against Tottenham in the North London Derby, they will have qualified for next season’s European elite competition. Therefore, the match in itself will play a huge role in whether certain players could be rocking up at the Emirates this summer.
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Raheem Sterling
The Manchester City winger is a player that Arsenal are exploring the possibility of signing according to The Telegraph. Having spoken to CBS Sports’ Ben Jacobs, he explains that Tottenham would be the winger’s preferred destination due to a number of factors, including Spurs’ pitch to him.
However, were Arsenal to be in the Champions League next season, this could play a massive role in changing the winger’s mind about where to go if he does leave. Having played at Manchester City for so many seasons, dropping into the Europa League would be a significant step-down.
Gabriel Jesus
football.london understands that Gabriel Jesus is one of the key names that Mikel Arteta would like to sign this summer. The Brazilian would provide the quality to help close the gap to the current Premier League title challengers by directly coming from one of them.
However, without Champions League football, Jesus is unlikely to choose the Gunners. His agent revealed that as many as six clubs have made enquiries about the chance to sign him and it would be understandable that most if not all are in the running to play Champions League football next season. Arsenal need to be in it also to have the best chance of convincing Jesus to make the switch.
Youri Tielemans
Leicester City’s Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans has just one year left on his deal. It is expected that the Foxes will want to cash in on the 25-year-old so as to not let him leave for free in the summer.
However, despite Arsenal’s interest in him, Tielemans is said to be waiting until the end of the season to assess his options to ensure that his next club play in the Champions League. Should Arsenal miss out, the door will almost certainly be closed to signing Tielemans.
Darwin Nunez
The Benfica star is on the radar of almost all the elite clubs across Europe. Perhaps no longer Manchester City in fairness after they secured Erling Haaland, but that does make sense. For everyone else, however, Darwin Nunez is considered to be a world-class talent.
However, like all the prior players on this list, Nunez is expected to want Champions League football. iNews reported that a source had confirmed this to them. Arsenal will therefore need that fourth spot to have a chance.
“Whether you trawl through the data or watch him in the flesh, it’s pretty clear he’s an outstanding striker,” they said. “In every metric, he shapes up well. He’s good in the air, a great decision-maker, he’s mobile, tactically superb and embraces the fight. He has it all and if we could get him, we would. But he’ll be going to a Champions League club.”
Victor Osimhen
Napoli transfer guru Emanuele Cammaroto has said that despite Arsenal’s interest in Victor Osimhen he, like the prior four on our list, will want to play in the Champions League next season.
“The big names of the Premier League are following him and are beginning to come forward,” said Cammaroto via Sport Witness. “The former Lille player wants to play in the Champions League with Napoli, and then he will choose his future.”
Although Osimhen seems a tougher player to dislodge from his club, mainly due to Napoli’s standing in Serie A, if Arsenal have any hope of persuading him to make the switch, Champions League football is a must.
