Chelsea are back in the UEFA Champions League for the first time in over two years after clinching a dramatic qualification spot on the final day of last season.
But what’s even more intriguing is that despite finishing fourth in the Premier League, the Blues will be placed in Pot 1, ahead of their London rivals Arsenal.
So why are Chelsea seeded higher than Arsenal even though the Gunners have been more consistent in recent seasons? Let’s break it down.
How Chelsea Qualified for the Champions League
Enzo Maresca’s men sealed their UCL spot on the final day with a narrow win against Nottingham Forest, courtesy of Levi Colwill’s decisive strike at the City Ground.
Going into the game, Chelsea needed either a win or dropped points from Aston Villa and Newcastle.
Both Villa and Newcastle lost, but the Blues ensured their fate with a victory of their own.
It was a huge moment for the West Londoners, who had gone through four managers in two years – Graham Potter, Frank Lampard, Mauricio Pochettino, and now Maresca – before finally booking their return to Europe’s elite competition.
Why Chelsea Are Ranked Higher Than Arsenal
At first glance, it seems unfair: Arsenal, under Mikel Arteta, have consistently been in the Champions League recently and even challenged for
the Premier League title, yet they are seeded lower.
The explanation lies in UEFA’s club coefficient ranking system.
🔹 What are UEFA Coefficients?
UEFA coefficients are calculated based on a team’s performance in the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League over the past five seasons.
Clubs earn points for wins, draws, and progression in each stage of the competitions.
Champions League performances are weighted more heavily, which benefits teams who have gone deep into the competition.
🔹 Chelsea vs Arsenal in UEFA Coefficients
Chelsea (7th in Europe) – 107 points
Arsenal (12th in Europe) – 98 points
Chelsea’s 2021 Champions League triumph, along with consistent deep runs during that five-year window, boosted their coefficient ranking significantly.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s absence from Europe for several seasons before Arteta’s rebuild means they’re still catching up.
Champions League Pots for 2024/25
The 36 qualified teams will be seeded into four pots:
Pot 1: Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, PSG, Inter Milan, Chelsea, Barcelona
Pot 2: Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Atletico Madrid, Juventus, RB Leipzig
Pot 3: Tottenham Hotspur, Napoli, Benfica, Lazio
Pot 4: Newcastle United, Celtic, Feyenoord
This means Chelsea could potentially avoid heavyweights like Real Madrid and Bayern in the early phase, while Arsenal face the risk of being drawn against them.
Why the Premier League Will Have Six Teams in the Champions League
Normally, the EPL has four automatic UCL spots. However, due to England’s strong UEFA coefficient as a league and Tottenham’s Europa League victory,
six English clubs will play in this year’s competition:
Manchester City
Liverpool
Arsenal
Chelsea
Newcastle United
Tottenham Hotspur
Final Thoughts
Chelsea’s turbulent rebuild is finally paying dividends, and thanks to their historical success in Europe, they return straight into Pot 1.
Arsenal may be stronger domestically, but in UEFA’s eyes, Chelsea’s past five years in Europe still make them the bigger threat.
With six English clubs in this season’s competition, expect fireworks – and potentially some all-Premier League clashes right from the group stage.