Arsenal’s slide down the Premier League has left them facing the prospect of a nightmare pre-season that would involve managing Europa League qualifiers and expected matches in Singapore just 11 days after the World Cup final.

Uefa has confirmed that a Europa League space for English teams will go to the club that finishes seventh in the Premier League, provided that Southampton do not unexpectedly win the FA Cup.

The extra place follows Manchester City also winning the League Cup but, with Burnley now only two points behind Arsène Wenger’s team following Sunday’s fifth consecutive away defeat in the league – this time at Newcastle – Arsenal finishing seventh has become a very real possibility.

That would mean entering the Europa League at the second qualifying round stage, with the first match scheduled for July 26. That is the same date as Arsenal had been planning to face Atlético Madrid as part of an international tournament in Singapore that also includes Paris St-Germain. There is no Emirates Cup competition this year but potentially five further Europa League qualifying dates on Aug 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30. Arsenal were already certain to rest players from the Singapore competition because of what has always been Wenger’s desire for them to have at least three completely clear weeks of rest during the summer.