Having failed to qualify for this season’s Champions League thanks to a disappointing fifth-place finish in the Premier League last term, Arsenal now face the serious prospect of missing out for the second season running. Prior to the 2016/17 campaign, the Gunners had made it into Europe’s elite competition every season since 1997.

While such a record may not seem like anything to panic about, it should be taken into consideration the impact that finishing outside of the top four can have a on a club over the long term. Former Champions League regulars such as Liverpool and more recently, Manchester United, have struggled to get back into the competition after repeatedly missing out on the top four. In fact, the Manchester side only returned to the competition this season after a two-year absence thanks to a rule change which offered the Europa League winners a spot in the group stages. Continue reading