DUBLIN, IRELAND - DECEMBER 10: Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his teams first goal with Ainsley Maitland-Niles of Arsenal an Emile Smith Rowe of Arsenal during the UEFA Europa League Group B stage match between Dundalk FC and Arsenal FC at Aviva Stadium on December 10, 2020 in Dublin, Ireland. The match will be played without fans, behind closed doors as a Covid-19 precaution. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
3 benefits of Arsenal returning to the Europa League next season
by Adam Schultz
Arsenal finished the 2021/22 season in fifth place and returned to the Europa League after a two-year absence. Despite sometimes being looked down upon, the competition offers its fair share of benefits.
Arsenal are back in Europe for the first time in what feels like forever. While it’s not the competition we wanted, the Europa League still has its perks.
After consecutive eighth-placed finishes and missing out on Europe, the Gunners managed to lift themselves into fifth by the season’s end. Champions League was a distinct possibility at one stage, but we all know how that turned out.
3 benefits of Arsenal playing Europa League football next season
Many have laughed off Arsenal competing in the Europa League next season as often it is looked at as a second-rate competition. Still, it is far from that, and it offers players yet another competition on the continental stage to showcase their talents.
Here are three benefits of the Gunners competing in the Europa League next season.
1. More playing time for squad players
This is the obvious one. Last season, we saw William Saliba loaned out specifically because Arsenal did not have enough games to play. Once a week in the league was not enough, given that the club was knocked out of the FA by the Premier League-bound Nottingham Forest.
While players like Saliba, Albert Sambi Lokonga, and Rob Holding will see more game time, it also provides opportunities for some of the club’s academy players to get valuable exposure to first-team football.
https://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/1473407318565928963?s=20&t=zetNgxHYJV9QbYWm06RbBg
Players like Arthur Okonkwo, Charlie Patino, Catalin Cirjan, Ben Cottrell, Omari Hutchinson, Miguel Azeez, and Marcelo Flores could benefit from seeing minutes at different stages of the season. We saw Cottrell and Patino get minutes in the domestic cups last season, and add in an extra competition; they could be seeing more game time in 2022.
It might also be valuable to players returning from loan to the club. Should they not be sold, there could be an opportunity for the likes of Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Reiss Nelson, and Folarin Balogun. Not to mention Saliba.
Arsenal will be expected to make it past the group stage without too much fuss, so chances are we could see some of our best young talents get to strut their stuff next season.
Continued on next slide….
William Saliba</a> loaned out specifically because Arsenal did not have enough games to play. Once a week in the league was not enough, given that the club was knocked out of the FA by the Premier League-bound Nottingham Forest.</p>
<p>While players like Saliba, Albert Sambi Lokonga, and Rob Holding will see more game time, it also provides opportunities for some of the club’s academy players to get valuable exposure to first-team football.</p>
<p>https://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/1473407318565928963?s=20&t=zetNgxHYJV9QbYWm06RbBg</p>
<p>Players like Arthur Okonkwo, Charlie Patino, Catalin Cirjan, Ben Cottrell, Omari Hutchinson, Miguel Azeez, and Marcelo Flores could benefit from seeing minutes at different stages of the season. We saw Cottrell and Patino get minutes in the domestic cups last season, and add in an extra competition; they could be seeing more game time in 2022.</p>
<p>It might also be valuable to <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/11/3-benefits-arsenal-europa-league-next-season/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/02/3-returning-loan-players-who-have-a-part-to-play-next-season/">players returning from loan to the club</a>. Should they not be sold, there could be an opportunity for the likes of Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Reiss Nelson, and Folarin Balogun. <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/11/3-benefits-arsenal-europa-league-next-season/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/06/arteta-handled-saliba-situation-perfectly/">Not to mention Saliba</a>.</p>
<p>Arsenal will be expected to make it past the group stage without too much fuss, so chances are we could see some of our best young talents get to strut their stuff next season.</p>
<p><em>Continued on next slide….</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/11/3-benefits-arsenal-europa-league-next-season/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Benefit #2 of Europa League Football </a>
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<img decoding="async" class="wp-image-126214 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/11/3-benefits-arsenal-europa-league-next-season/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1152706041.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1152706041.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1152706041-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Europa League trophy is seen prior to the UEFA Europa League Final between Chelsea and Arsenal at Baku Olimpiya Stadionu on May 29, 2019 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>2. Increases the finances</h2>
<p>While the finances aren’t in the same ballpark as the Champions League, Arsenal will profit from playing in the Europa League next season.</p>
<p>Per <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/11/3-benefits-arsenal-europa-league-next-season/"https://www.sportingnews.com/au/soccer/news/europa-league-prize-money-breakdown-how-much-do-winners-2022/uviivwm7iuadjq8tbmrmr7ad">sportingnews.com, all 32 clubs participating in the competition get a nice £3.34 million as an entry bonus, then £579,54 for a win and £193,20 for a draw. If Arsenal win their group, another £1.01 million will be coming their way.</p>
<p>We expect the club to make it beyond the group stage, and that is where the money increases. Should the Gunners make it to at least the quarterfinals, they will bank a minimum of £1.65 million, which rises to £7.90 million if they win the competition.</p>
<p>Now, compared to the Champions League, these are rookie numbers. But it’s more money than what Arsenal have earned the previous two seasons. Any extra income is greatly appreciated at this stage.</p>
<p>It might not seem like it is worth it, but the fact is the club has a chance to increase its money from the competition, one that many would expect them to go far in.</p>
<p><em>Continued on next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/11/3-benefits-arsenal-europa-league-next-season/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Benefit #3 of Europa League Football </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-125128 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/11/3-benefits-arsenal-europa-league-next-season/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1234877860.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, CL" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1234877860.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1234877860-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">ISTANBUL, TURKEY – AUGUST 26: UEFA Champions League trophy is being displayed ahead of UEFA Champions League 21/22 group stage draw at Halic Congress Center in Istanbul, Turkey on August 26, 2021. (Photo by Sebnem Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>3. Another gateway into the Champions League</h2>
<p>One that perhaps gets overlooked by some. With other clubs in the Premier League sure to strengthen, the battle for the top-four will be even tighter than last season. It presents a significant challenge, especially considering that Arsenal now will play in an extra competition.</p>
<p>As we know, the winners of the Europa League punch their ticket into the Champions League for next season, like Eintracht Frankfurt did this previous season after they defeated Rangers in the final.</p>
<p>With so much pressure during the league season, Arsenal will still have a “get out of jail” card to qualify for the Champions League. While not ideal, as we would ideally like to finish inside the top four regardless, the fact that there are now two ways in which the club can qualify is a bonus.</p>
<p>As we saw in 2019/20, the final was a chance for the Gunners to claim a Champions League spot miraculously. After finishing eighth in the league table, there was still an opportunity to return to Europe’s premier club competition.</p>
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<p>As we know, the club failed, and another eighth-place finish followed in 2020/21. While it is unconventional for Arsenal not to qualify for the Champions League by getting into the top four as we had become accustomed to under Arsene Wenger, now we are looking at any way to get back.</p>
<p>The Europa League provides the club with that opportunity.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
