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Arsenal have received a timely boost in their bid to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League, despite falling to a disappointing 2-1 home defeat against Bournemouth on Saturday.
The Gunners looked to be in control at the Emirates Stadium after Declan Rice gave them the lead in the first half. However, a lacklustre second-half performance allowed the visitors to turn the game around, with Dean Huijsen heading home an equaliser in the 67th minute and Evanilson completing the comeback with a close-range finish 15 minutes from time.
The result marked Arsenal’s fourth league defeat of the season and confirmed a remarkable double for Bournemouth over Mikel Arteta’s side, having also won the reverse fixture 2-0 earlier in the campaign.
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The loss came just days after Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final. The Gunners will now travel to the Parc des Princes on Wednesday needing a turnaround to reach the final — and potentially secure Champions League qualification by winning the competition for the first time in their history.
While Arsenal have not yet mathematically secured a top-five finish in the Premier League, developments elsewhere on Saturday have strengthened their position. Newcastle United were held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton, missing the chance to close the gap on Arsenal. As it stands, the Gunners remain three points ahead of third-placed Manchester City.
Crucially, the Premier League has now secured a top-two spot in UEFA’s association club coefficient rankings, ensuring an extra Champions League place next season through the newly introduced “European Performance Spot” (EPS). This means the top five teams in the league will all qualify for the 2025/26 Champions League, with the possibility of a sixth English club also making it through if the Europa League winners finish outside the top five.
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Liverpool have already sealed their place in next season’s competition, having guaranteed a top-of-the-table finish. Arsenal, meanwhile, are still widely expected to secure a second-place finish for the third consecutive year — but face a tight finish to the campaign.
With just three games remaining, Arteta’s side will likely need to win at least two of their fixtures to ensure a top-four finish. Their run-in includes a daunting trip to Anfield to face Liverpool, a home clash against Newcastle United, and a final-day visit to Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium.
Despite recent setbacks, Arsenal’s path to the Champions League remains in their hands — both through league performance and their ongoing European campaign.
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