Arsenal are currently the favourites to finish fourth on the Premier League table but there’s still a small chance that they could miss out on Champions League football next season.
Right now, Arsenal are 4th on the table with Spurs just two points behind them at 5th. Manchester United are five points behind the final UCL spot so in reality, the two North London sides are going to fight it out for a spot in Europe’s top tier next season.
There is one North London Derby still remaining and this game has the potential to generate a once in a lifetime play-off game between the two sides, a match which the Gunners might very well lose.
Of course, several permutations and combinations need to fall in place for this to transpire but we anyways decided to take a look at how the Gunners and Spurs might end up playing a 39th league game this season.
What happens if Arsenal and Spurs finish tied on points this season?
For a play-off to take place, the first thing that needs to happen is for Arsenal and Tottenham to be tied on points.
The Premier League rules suggest that when two teams(who are level on points) are fighting for the title, European qualification or are entangled in a relegation battle, their head-to-head results will be taken into consideration.
If the clubs cannot be separated still, then the team who has scored the most goals away from home in the head-to-head matches will be given the upper hand.
Is there a chance of an Arsenal vs Spurs play-off match?
A lot of things need to fall into place for a play-off to happen but on paper, there’s still a chance.
Arsenal won the first derby of the season 3-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium so there’s every possibility that Conte’s side can replicate that scoreline in the upcoming NLD.
If Spurs win the second derby 3-1 at the Emirates and then both these sides finish on the same number of points then we should be getting a play-off match which will be held, as per the rules, on a neutral ground.
In reality, things are not likely to get so complex but we have already had one season where the Premier League champions were demarcated on goal difference so it won’t be a massive shocker if Arsenal and Spurs have to play an extra game this season, to be able to qualify for the Champions League.
Arsenal have picked up some momentum at the exact same time when Spurs have started dropping points so the onus is actually on Mikel Arteta’s side to make sure that they don’t fumble and hand over the fourth spot to their arch-rivals.
