Published: 23:19, 7 April 2026 | Updated: 23:19, 7 April 2026

There will be at least five Premier League teams in the Champions League next season after Arsenal beat Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday.

As part of the new format for Europe's elite club competition, the two nations which perform best across the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League are handed European Performance Spots (EPS) by UEFA.  

This means that those countries receive an extra place in the Champions League, as demonstrated last year when Newcastle came fifth in the Premier League but qualified for the competition. 

The EPS spots are awarded through the performances of clubs from each league across competitions, with a total coefficient value divided by the number of teams competing.

The Premier League has led the way for much of the season given the strong performances of English sides on the continent, and Arsenal's late win over Sporting in the first leg of their quarter-final tie on Tuesday secured the extra spot for the division.

Their coefficient average score is 25.013, well clear of Spain (20.281), Germany (19.714)...