Arsenal qualify for Champions League after Manchester United's defeat means they can finish no lower than fourth position- That defeat for Louis van Gaal means Arsenal will finish in the top four
- Arsenal have qualified for Europe's elite competition for 20 years
By KIERAN GILL FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 23:40 GMT, 10 May 2016 | UPDATED: 23:41 GMT, 10 May 2016
Manchester United's defeat by West Ham on Tuesday night was good news for Arsenal, who again qualified for Champions League football under Arsene Wenger.Arsenal will play in Europe's elite competition for the 19th successive season because they can finish no lower than fourth in the Barclays Premier League.They sit third on 68 points ‒ five ahead of Louis van Gaal's team who succumbed to two goals in the 76th and 80th minutes at Upton Park to leave them all but out of the race for a top-four finish. For Arsenal to finish fourth they would need to lose to Aston Villa, while Manchester City would need to win away at Swansea City.Finishing fourth is enough to earn a place in the final qualifying round of the Champions League, even if Liverpool do win their Europa League final against Sevilla.
For Manchester United to finish fourth they would need to beat Bournemouth, but hope that Manchester City lose at Swansea because of their inferior goal difference.
Leicester City have already been confirmed as champions and Tottenham Hotspur have been left to fight for second place.
Arsenal can finish above their north London rivals but only by beating Aston Villa and hoping that Tottenham lose away to Newcastle United.
Jack Wilshere, the Arsenal midfielder, told his team-mates they have to be prepared for a tough fight against a side playing for pride when they host Aston Villa.
'I don't know what happened to Aston Villa this season but I don't expect them to come and just let us beat them,' Wilshere told the London Evening Standard.
'We said a few weeks back that we don't want to get fourth. We don't want to have to face a qualifier. We want to be straight in there and enjoy the season without having to play a big game beforehand.'
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