Liverpool's Carabao Cup final victory could be good news for Arsenal.
On a weekend where Manchester United were held to a goalless draw by Watford to hand the Gunners a major boost in the top-four race, Mikel Arteta 's side may have moved another step closer to being back in Europe next season following events at Wembley Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
After an entertaining 120 minutes of action, the 2022 Carabao Cup final was decided by a penalty shootout as Kepa Arrizabalaga's wild effort proved to be the decisive miss.
As a result of Liverpool ending Manchester City's dominance in the Carabao Cup, the race for European football qualification has become even clearer for the likes of Arsenal, Man United and Tottenham Hotspur.
However, following the introduction of the Europa Conference League (UECL) - UEFA's third club tournament - things are going to be a little complicated once again.
UEFA's newest tournament was first announced at the beginning of last season and got underway all the way back in July with the first qualifying round.
For teams in England, qualification for the tournament is extremely straightforward as the winners of the Carabao Cup are rewarded with a spot in the UECL regardless of where they finish in the Premier League table.
And as Liverpool have emerged victorious, it means the UECL place is likely to drop to the next eligible team in the Premier League.
This is because Jurgen Klopp's side are on course to qualify for the Champions League next season via their position in the top-flight of English football.
Furthermore, with the Reds as well as Chelsea and Manchester City all still in the FA Cup, another European spot could open up if one for the aforementioned trio lifts the trophy and then finishes in the top five.
This means the UECL place could go to the team that finishes seventh as long as the FA Cup AND League Cup winners finish in the top five.
Should Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City, West Ham United or Spurs finish in the top four and win the FA Cup, then the fifth-placed team will also get Europa League football next season.
In this scenario, the sixth-placed team will also enter Europa League and the reward for finishing seventh would be a spot in the Europa Conference League.
Although, Leicester City and a Europa League rule change can offer up a further twist in the race for European qualification.
With the Foxes into the round of 16 of the Europa Conference League, the rule as per UEFA, if they are the inaugural winners of the competition, states: 'The winner will gain a place in the following season's UEFA Europa League group stage if they have not qualified for the UEFA Champions League via their domestic competition'.
As Brendan Rodgers' side are unlikely to seal a top-four finish this season, they pose a threat to Arsenal, Man United, West Ham, Wolves and Spurs for a place in next season's Europa League.
And because England are only allocated two teams in Europe's second-tier club competition, it means Leicester and whichever side finishes fifth in the Premier League could gain entry into the Europa League next season.
In addition, the team that finishes sixth would get a Europa Conference League place. Therefore, in this particular scenario, finishing outside the top six will mean no European football in 2022/2023.
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Having experienced a season without European football for the first time in over two decades, Arsenal won't want a repeat any time soon and can take comfort from the fact they are on course to seal a top-six finish.
In fact, they currently trail fourth-placed Man United by two points and with three games in hand, there's a good chance the Gunners will be back at Europe's top table next season.
But there are going to be more twists and turns in the fight for European qualification between now and May.
