Arsenal's last-gasp win vs Sporting kickstarts chain reaction which could impact 11 Premier League clubs

When Kai Havertz slotted home to hand Arsenal a 1-0 win in their UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg against Sporting CP, the away fans were overjoyed. However, some other Premier League supporters may not have realised that the strike also had an impact on their club.

Havertz’s stoppage-time winner handed Arsenal the advantage ahead of next week’s second leg at the Emirates, while it also confirmed that at least five Premier League teams will take part in next season’s Champions League, with the league securing a European Performance Spot for a successive year.

Each season, UEFA gives an additional spot to the best-performing leagues across the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.

All nine English clubs competing across the aforementioned competitions reached at least the last 16.

Newcastle United benefited from the additional fifth-place spot last season. This time around, a La Liga club is likely to benefit from the second European Performance Spot.

Liverpool winning the Champions League could help Everton qualify for the competition (Credit:Getty)

Meanwhile, if Aston Villa, who are currently fourth in the Premier League, win the Europa League and finish fifth in the English top flight, this would mean that at least six English teams would enter the Champions League in 2026/27, with the Europa League winners awarded a Champions League spot – as Spurs were after winning the competition despite finishing 17th in the Premier League last season.

Similarly, if Liverpool win the Champions League but miss out on the top four, this would also mean that sixth place from England would enter next season’s Champions League.

If both Villa and Liverpool win their respective European competitions and finish fifth and sixth, then seventh place would enter the Champions League.

Also, if Nottingham Forest win the Europa League, with the side preparing for their quarter-final first leg in Porto later this week, this would also secure a sixth Champions League place for Premier League clubs.

As things stand, just seven points separate fifth-placed Liverpool and Bournemouth in 13th.

Brentford, in seventh on 46 points, and Everton, in eighth on the same number of points but with a worse goal difference, who face each other at the Gtech on Saturday (11 April), will likely be keeping a close eye on their fellow English teams in Europe this week.

Fulham, on 44 points in ninth, Brighton, on 43 in 10th, Sunderland, also on 43 in 11th, and Newcastle, on 42 points in 12th, may also be hoping their fellow English sides perform well in Europe, which could see one of them qualify through the back door.