Premier League secure fifth Champions League spot after Arsenal dominate Real Madrid

The Premier League has been awarded a fifth Champions League qualification spot as a result of Arsenal's triumph over Real Madrid on Tuesday.

The Gunners roared to an emphatic 3-0 victory over the defending champions in their quarter-final first leg at the Emirates, with Declan Rice netting two stunning free kicks before Mikel Merino capped off a magical night for Mikel Arteta's side.

The performance of English teams across the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League this season had put the Premier League well out in front in the race for an extra qualification spot, and just one win in this week's first legs was needed to secure it.

Arsenal delivered in style, ensuring the Premier League will now have five teams in next season's Champions League instead of the usual four.

League-leaders Liverpool are certainties to qualify alongside Arteta's Gunners, but the extra spot comes as a huge boost to the chasing pack whose focus had previously been on sealing a place in the top four.

Nottingham Forest and Chelsea currently sit third and fourth, but Newcastle United are level on points with the Blues in fifth and have the game in hand needed to climb above Enzo Maresca's side. Thanks to Arsenal's victory, all three teams would qualify for the Champions League as things stand.

Manchester City are just one point behind in sixth, with current quarter-finalists Aston Villa a further point back. Fulham and Brighton & Hove Albion are just five and six points adrift of the top five, so there is still plenty to play for between now and the end of the season.

The team which ends the season in sixth will automatically qualify for the Europa League, rather than go through the qualification phase.

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