After a defeat, FC Arsenal can only reach international competition via the FA Cup. Aston Villa are once again gaining hope.
England’s long-established club FC Arsenal must win the FA Cup this season if they are not to miss out on qualifying for an international competition for the first time in 25 years.
The Gunners lost 1-0 (0-1) to the relegation-threatened Aston Villa on the penultimate day of the Premier League and can only finish the season in eighth place at best.
Arsenal must win FA Cup
The only salvation for Mikel Arteta’s team remains winning the national cup against London city rivals FC Chelsea at Wembley on 1 August. Arsenal, who missed the three German legionnaires Mesut Özil, Bernd Leno and Shkodran Mustafi with injuries, would only have had a chance of sixth place by winning.
The only goal, however, came from Egypt’s Trezeguet (27), who shot Villa out of the relegation zone before Sunday’s final matchday.
Sterling double for city win
The former European Cup winner is only 17th in the standings thanks to a better goal difference, ahead of FC Watford, who previously lost 4-0 (2-0) to Manchester City.
England international Raheem Sterling had put the runners-up in the first round on the winning track by scoring a brace in the first round (31./40.). In the second period Phil Foden (63rd) and Aymeric Laporte (66th) raised their game. National player Ilkay Gündogan sat on the bench of the Skyblues for 90 minutes.