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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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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool29217169274270
2Arsenal281510352242855
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest28156745331251
4Chelsea28147753361749
5Manchester CityMan City28145953381547
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2814594738947
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton28121064640646
8Aston Villa2912984145-445
9Bournemouth28128847341344
10Fulham2811984138342
11Crystal Palace2810993633339
12Brentford28115124844438
13Tottenham HotspurSpurs281041455411434
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd2897123440-634
15Everton2871293135-433
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham2896133248-1633
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2865173857-1923
18Ipswich TownIpswich2838172658-3217
19Leicester CityLeicester2845192562-3717
20Southampton2823232068-489


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