Europe in Gunners' sights...for next year!

Even as Arsenal FC prepares for their Champions League Final against FC Barcelona in Paris in a fortnight, the thoughts of Arsenal supporters could very well be focused on the 2006-2007 edition of the lucrative Champions League. The English Football Association is granted 4 spots in the Champions League, which go to the top four finishers in the English Premier League.

Arsenal, despite being one game away from European glory is sitting in fifth place in the Premiership, 4 points behind hated North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Arsenal has a match in hand, though.

At this point, three potential scenarios can unfold.

If Arsenal does not beat FC Barcelona, and if they cannot catch Tottenham, the Gunners will be out of luck, and will have to try their fortunes in the second-tier UEFA Cup next year.

If Arsenal does not beat Barcelona, and they can catch Tottenham, then there not only will be any problems, but no controversy.

The sticky wicket is what happens if Arsenal beats Barcelona in the Final, and fails to catch Tottenham, finishing in a place that would not qualify them for the Champions League. This has only happened once before, in 2005, Liverpool won the Champions League, and finished fifth in the Premiership. The regulations laid down by UEFA state that if the holders do not qualify, and the affected organization has 4 clubs entered in the Champions League, then the holders will be entered at the expense of the fourth-place team.

Last year however, this situation was averted, as the English FA wished to avoid legal action by Liverpool's cross-town rival Everton, who had finished in fourth. While all the signs I am hearing point to the FA bumping Tottenham and giving them Arsenal's place, this would be a massive controversy, as why should the English FA bump Arsenal's derby rival and not Liverpool's? The two teams seem to be in identical situations.

Arsenal finishes the season away to Manchester City on Thursday, then at home for the last game ever at Highbury this weekend against Wigan Athletic.

Tottenham finishes the campaign away at the Boleyn Grounds against West Ham United, who are expected to field a weakened squad due to West Ham's FA Cup Final match against Liverpool a week from Saturday in Cardiff.

MY PICK: West Ham, with the injuries and the fact that they will be fielding a weakened squad against Spurs, I can't see them pulling out the victory. Perhaps a tie, but most likely a win for Tottenham. This would put Spurs up 5 or 7 points on Arsenal with two matches to play, clinching fourth for Spurs with a win, or anything less than Arsenal winning out.