There will be three Premier League teams in the finals of the three European competitions this May.
The only competition that will not have an English club is the Champions League. And that is because Arsenal lost to Paris Saint-Germain in both semi-final matches.
Ousmane Dembele’s 4th minute strike saw PSG win 1-0 at the Emirates. The Ligue 1 champions then raced into a two-goal lead, before Bukayo Saka pulled one back with an easy finish.
“It’s just a case of Arsenal being Arsenal,”; Nwosu Michael Izuchukwu, a podcaster and digital marketer, tells DAILY POST.
“People say ‘act like you’ve been there before’, but I genuinely believe that you cannot give what you don’t have.
“Arteta showed up at the Parc des Princes looking to go past PSG with long throw-ins from Partey and to be honest, that pretty much sums it up.
“The win against Madrid was fully deserved, but I think it caused Arsenal to overlook certain things that they went on to pay for against PSG.”;
PSG will now face Inter Milan in the final.
However, it’s an all-English affair in the Europa League.
Manchester United beat Athletic Bilbao 4-1 on the Thursday night and 7-1 on aggregate, while Tottenham Hotspur saw off Bodo/Glimt 2-0 in Norway and 5-1 on aggregate.
In the Conference League, Chelsea saw off Djugarden 5-1 to progress into the final where they take on Real Betis.
So, what has been the reason for the resurgence of Premier League teams on the continent?
“Man City and Liverpool didn’t do the league any favours,”; Izuchukwu explains.
“But ultimately a lot of good investment has gone into the league with teams like Newcastle and Aston Villa being in the run-in for Champions League football and having the quality needed to go there and really show out against the best teams in the world.
“Chelsea’s case is very different because they have no business playing in the Conference League with all that quality, but stranger things have happened.
“As for Man United and Tottenham, I really can’t explain how they’ve managed to pull it off considering how terrible they have been in the league.
“But then again you can make an argument for quality of players or the scriptwriters having a good laugh.”;
Predictions for the finals?
“I believe Manchester United will win the Europa League and Chelsea should win the Conference League,”; Izuchukwu said.
Next season, the Premier League will be rewarded with six places in the Champions League.
It is not only a first for the Premier League to have so many teams qualify, it is also the first time that any European country has ever had more than five clubs in the Champions League at one time.
This could begin a new era of English domination.
“It all comes down to doing the right things in the summer, but yes, it’s possible,”; Izuchukwu adds.
