Thought the Premier League season finished this Sunday? If two very plausible results pop up in the final round, an extra game will have to be played to decide third spot.
Last night’s 4-1 win for Arsenal over Wigan was significant for a few reasons. Firstly it relegated the FA Cup winners, simultaneously saving the skins of Sunderland, Aston Villa and Southampton.
It also left Arsenal in fourth, and in pole position to keep Spurs out of Champions League football next season.
But, as the Telegraph points out this morning, it also leaves open one very intriguing possibility.
The Gunners are just two points behind Chelsea so a win for them over Newcastle, plus a Chelsea draw to Everton, would leave both sides tied on 73 points. And with Arsenal gaining a few goals back last night, the two sides are almost neck and neck on goals scored (73 versus 71) and goal difference (35 versus 34) now too.
In fact, a 0-0 result for Chelsea, and a 2-1 win for Arsenal, would leave the two London clubs locked together, with no way of breaking the deadlock. A 1-1 and 3-2 result would do the same, and so on. Premier League rules state that if two teams can’t be separated they must play-off at a neutral venue.
Fitting this extra game in could be tricky as Chelsea are due to fly to the US for some post-season friendlies while venues like Wembley are tied up with play-off finals, Champions League final and the England/Ireland game.
With third place meaning automatic Champions League football, and with fourth meaning a qualifier, the final placings really matter.
Chelsea’s record breaking season of games may not be over just yet…
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