Arsenal MUST win the Champions League to grab UEFA's last Club World Cup spot

Arsenal must win the Champions League if they are to secure the last remaining place in next year's expanded Club World Cup, with a European minnow in line to take the spot otherwise.

After their 2-2 draw at the Emirates last week, Mikel Arteta's men must beat Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night to reach the Champions League semi-final for the first time in 15 years.

But Arsenal have to go all the way and lift European football's biggest trophy for the first time in their history if they are to qualify for the Club World Cup.

The revamped version of the tournament will feature 32 teams, with 12 representing  UEFA and six from the CONMEBOL, its South American counterpart.

The AFC, CAF and CONCACAF will be represented by four clubs each, with the OFC and the host association awarded one slot each.

The winners of each confederation's top club competition between 2021 and 2024 have all qualified tournament, with the remaining teams to be determined by a club ranking over the four-year period.

In practical terms, it means 11 of UEFA's 12 slots have already been filled.

Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester City have qualified by virtue of winning the Champions League over the past three seasons.

Meanwhile another eight clubs - Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Porto, Benfica, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus and Atletico Madrid - have qualified based on UEFA's four-year ranking.

The last remaining spot up for grabs is reserved for the winners of the Champions League this season, which is where the process gets complicated.

Of the six remaining teams left in the competition, Arsenal are the only club that does not meet UEFA's four-year ranking criteria to qualify for the Club World Cup.

The Gunners' only chance of taking part in