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The prospect of Chelsea finishing outside the top four but winning the Champions League, as Liverpool did in 2005, remains a long shot but then long shots are what managers are paid to keep their eye on. Arsène Wenger acknowledged as much yesterday and it means that a win for Arsenal in today's lunchtime kick-off against Chelsea carries even more significance than it might have done before Wednesday's semi-final first leg at Stamford Bridge.

Of course, a demolition of Chelsea at the Nou Camp in three days' time and all that talk ends but should Chelsea make it to the final in Munich then the picture changes. When Liverpool won the trophy in 2005, special dispensation was made to allow five English clubs to enter the competition the following season. From then the rules were tightened so that a defending champion who finishes outside the top four takes...

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Related Topics: Soccer, Chelsea, Arsenal