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Arsenal, Chelsea could face playoff

Arsenal, Chelsea could face playoff
© PA Photos
Arsenal and Chelsea could be forced to face each other in a playoff in order to settle third place, depending on this weekend's results.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and Chelsea interim boss Rafael Benitez could still face the nightmare of having to play a playoff in order to secure third place in the Premier League.

Following the Gunners' 4-1 win over Wigan Athletic on Tuesday night at the Emirates, both sides are extremely close to finishing the season level.

Should Wenger's side beat Newcastle United 2-1 on Sunday and the Blues earn a goalless draw with Everton, then the London pair would both finish with identical figures in the league this year.

If those results were to happen, the clubs would finish with the same points (73), same goal difference (+35), and even the same number of goals scored (73) and conceded (38) after this weekend's final round of matches.

If that were the case then a playoff, presumably at Wembley Stadium, would need to take place between the duo to settle who clinches automatic qualification to the Champions League, while the loser would be forced to endure a two-legged qualifier to reach the group stage.

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Written by
Matt Cotton
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
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2Arsenal24148249222750
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest24145540271347
4Chelsea24127547311643
5Manchester CityMan City24125748351341
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle24125742291341
7Bournemouth24117641281340
8Aston Villa2410773437-337
9Fulham249963632436
10Brentford24103114342133
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton248973539-433
12Crystal Palace247982830-230
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd2485112834-629
14Tottenham HotspurSpurs24831348371127
15West Ham UnitedWest Ham2476112946-1727
16Everton236892328-526
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2454153452-1819
18Leicester CityLeicester2445152553-2817
19Ipswich TownIpswich2437142249-2716
20Southampton2423191854-369


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