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By Tony Attwood

Playing in the Champions League is part of our ability to attract new players. Players want to play in the top league, and that combined with the money it brings in, means getting in the league is a Big Deal.

But according to a document that has circulated among the committee of Arsenal Independent Supporters Association, of which I am a member, this year things might be a bit different.

We all remember how in the past when Liverpool won the Champs League having come outside the top four the rules were suddenly changed to give them a place in the Champs League as defending champions. Well it seems various changes were made at that point, and this season they could be important.

Here is the scenario being presented if Chelsea win the Champions League this season…

Chelsea finishes 1st/2nd/3rd:

Champions League entry as normal

Chelsea finishes 4th:

Top four all go straight to 2012/13 CL group stage

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Chelsea finishes 5th or lower:

4th placed club goes to the Europa League

You might want to look at that last one again. Chelsea 5th, and the 4th team in the Premier League does not go into the Champions League.

If you want to know what that means, look at Liverpool. Not only have they lost £20 million or so from the league, they now just have to rely on reputation to attract new players. Don’t try and tell a top European star that you have won the league cup. For all the noise the British press and the anti-Arsenal make about no trophies for 7 years, winning a domestic cup doesn’t count as much in the negotiations as a place in the Champions League.

As Liverpool have found, if you are not in the Champions League you can’t buy players from clubs who are in the Champions League.