Champions League

ARSENAL face a Champions League kick in the teeth for next season.Despite a likely runners-up spot in the Premier League, the Gunners are heading for the THIRD seeding pot in August’s group stage draw in Monaco.
Arsenal could be in line for a nightmare Champions League drawCredit: Reuters
Mikel Arteta will be desperate for Liverpool not to qualify for the Champions LeagueCredit: Reuters
It means Mikel Arteta’s side, back in the elite competition after a seven-year absence, could face a horror draw against the likes of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
And while the Gunners could still be promoted into the second batch of seeds, they will be desperate for Liverpool’s late top four charge to fail – as success would boot them another place down the rankings.
Uefa regulations mean the champions of the top six nations in the “country coefficient” – compiled over five seasons are automatic top seeds, along with the Champions League and Europa League winners.
The rest of the seeding pots are ranked on the “club coefficient” scores, with each team’s results during the past five seasons of European action added up.
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If things remain as they are across Europe’s major leagues, the top seeds will be Manchester City, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Napoli, PSG and Benfica, along with the two competition winners.
If City win the Champions League as well as the Prem, the final and eighth spot will go to Dutch champions Feyenoord.
As things stand, the eight highest ranked non-champion qualifiers, who would form the second seeding group, would be Real Madrid, Manchester United, Juventus, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, RB Leipzig and Porto.
Arsenal will miss out by one place.
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That could change, however, with Juventus facing a final decision on whether they should be deducted points, potentially ruling them out of the Champions League frame by an Italian tribunal next Monday.
The Turin side are currently second but are expected to lose as many as ten points, and if they finished outside the Serie A top four in place of AC Milan, that would promote Arsenal.
Likewise, if Real Madrid or Inter Milan – they have one foot in the final after their first leg win over their San Siro neighbours last week – triumph in Istanbul next month, Arsenal would be assured of the final second seeding berth.
However, if Liverpool get into the top four, with Newcastle the team to miss out, then it would need BOTH Juventus’ demotion and a Real or Inter Champions League triumph for Arsenal to be in the second tier.
Newcastle, who have not played in Europe since reaching the last eight of the Europa League in 2013, will be guaranteed a group stage place if they finish in the top four.
But Eddie Howe’s Magpies are certain to be in the bottom seeding pot, ensuring a tough draw with at least two major sides to face. More

ANTHONY MARTIAL rediscovered the golden touch in front of his old gaffer to shoot his current one a step closer to the Champions League.Martial had managed just three goals since the turn of the year and had drawn a blank in his previous eight games.
Alejandro Garnacho scored on his return from injuryCredit: Getty
Anthony Martial scored the opening goal against WolvesCredit: Getty
He fired home after being set up by AntonyCredit: PA
The win has put United four points clear of LiverpoolCredit: EPA
And to be fair he could hardly miss when Anthony’s square ball left him with an open net from 12 yards just after half an hour here.
Yet after waiting so long to celebrate a goal of his own, it was as welcome as a 30-yard scorcher for the Frenchman, who knows he is playing for his Old Trafford future.
Erik ten Hag may believe it is easier now to attract top names to United than when he first arrived a year ago, but try doing it without the offer of dining at Europe’s top table.
And if they hadn’t seen off a tenacious Wolves, the door to fourth place would have much have swung open for bitter rivals Liverpool, now hot on their heels.
It is still far from slammed on their back-to-form Scousers, but at least United have a little breathing space again and can decide their own destiny.
But there remains so much for Ten Hag to put right at this slumbering giant that, for all the improvements he has made, is only just rising to its knees.
A goalscorer has long been a priority in the summer, regardless of whether Martial is still here or not, and at least one new face in midfield is only slightly less crucial.
At least there are still some things you can rely on at Old Trafford…and few of them quite so dependable as Bruno Fernandes. It is just as well.
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Fittingly – and not surprisingly – he had a key role in Martial’s big moment against Wolves, stretching out a foot to retain possession when Jadon Sancho’s ball sold him short.
From there he fed Anthony and when the Brazilian picked out Martial, it was basically harder to miss than score. Fortunately for United, he proved the point
Although you could have said the same about an unmarked, point blank header from Anthony minutes earlier and he managed to fire that over the top.
And talking of over the top, Julen Lopetegui’s in-your-face appeal to fourth official Andre Marriner was exactly that on 70 minutes when he claimed David De Gea had felled Hee Chan Hwang.
The result left Julen Lopetegui’s Wolves side in 13th placeCredit: AFP
When Daniel Podence clipped one over the top, De Gea raced from his goal but was never going to reach the ball.
Crucially he never touched Hwang either, for all the South Korean went to ground…leaving Lopetegui leaping around appealing for a foul and a red card.
It wasn’t the last time the Wolves boss was left spitting mad, either, as United finally put an end to any doubts four minutes into stoppage time.
Fernandes was the creator with a cutting ball through the middle – and Alejandro Garnacho marked his return to action after eight weeks out thanks to a damaged ankle, with the coolest of finishes.
Garnacho sealed the points on his return to the teamCredit: Getty More