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#5 Lack of Champions League football could be a blessing
Say what you will about Arsenal’s barren run in Europe’s top club competition, they have been a fixture in the tournament since the Wenger era began.
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For the first time in 18 seasons, the Gunners are outside looking into the UCL but this could be of benefit in mounting a title challenge.
With all five of their potential title rivals involved in the UCL, Arsenal enjoy the advantage of being able to field weakened teams in the early stages of the Europa League with group opponents BATE Borisov (Bulgaria), FC Köln (Germany) and Red Star Belgrade (Serbia) providing little resistance.
This should keep the team’s top gun fresh for an assault on the league while their opponents battle the cream of European football and its attendant effects (injuries, jet lag et al).
