
Fans poke fun at ‘best team in Europe' Arsenal as they are 12th in Uefa's rankings behind MAN UTD
FANS are laughing at Arsenal after the Uefa rankings put them behind Manchester United.
The Gunners fell narrowly short of silverware for the third season in a row as the Red Devils had their worst campaign in modern history.
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Arsenal sit 12th in Uefa's coefficient league table
Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
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Despite a poor season, Man Utd remain ahead of them
Credit: Getty
After crashing out the Champions League to eventual winners PSG, Mikel Arteta claimed his team are the "best in Europe".
But the coefficient league table disagrees and even has Arsenal below crisis club Man Utd.
The rankings take into account each side's performance in the Champions, Europa and Conference Leagues over the last five years and it is used for seeding.
Arsenal sit 12th overall with 98 points and Man Utd are 11th on 102.5.
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The North Londoners' run to the Champions League semi-final this season earned them 36 points.
But their score has been hindered by not appearing on the continent in 2020/21 and losing in the Europa League last-16 to Sporting Lisbon the following year.
While Man Utd's performances across the five-year period have been more steady, featuring in every season.
Despite victories in the Europa being less valuable than the Champions League, two runner-up finishes and a run to quarter-final is enough to prop them up just above Arsenal.
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And fans have mocked the Gunners, with one saying: "As if the best team in Europe isn't even ranked top ten."
Another laughed: "Chelsea is still ahead of Arsenal despite not playing Champions League for two seasons."
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A third commented: "This can't be right, the best club in the world Arsenal are not there. They have been telling me all year they are the best the world has ever seen. Forget the trophies."
The updated rankings have Real Madrid out on top on 143.5, narrowly ahead of Manchester City's 137.75.
PSG's Champions League victory earned them 33.5 and rockets them to fifth.
Chelsea got 30 from their Conference League glory and they can still count upon the 33 from Champions League success under Thomas Tuchel four years ago.
Outside the top spots - Tottenham are 27th, West Ham sit 29th and Aston Villa place 46th.
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The Independent
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Anna Moorhouse Position: Goalkeeper | Age: 30 | Caps: 0 | Number: 13 The Orlando Pride goalkeeper received her first call-up last year, a surprise one at that at the age of 29, but is yet to make her first appearance for the Lionesses. One of the lesser-known names in the England squad as she has spent the last several years overseas - although she has played for Arsenal and West Ham in England before moving to Bordeaux in 2022 - but she is potentially an injury to Hampton away from starting at the Euros after the retirement of Mary Earps. Esme Morgan Position: Defender | Age: 24 | Caps: 13 | Number: 15 Moved to Washington Spirit in the United States last season after leaving Manchester City. Morgan fits Wiegman's requirements as an adaptable defensive player who can play in multiple positions in the defence, having appeared at both centre-back and full-back under the England manager. Jess Park Position: Midfielder | Age: 23 | Caps: 23 | Number: 20 One of the breakthrough talents to emerge over the last couple of years, Park will appear at her first major tournament after being on the standby list for the last World Cup. At 23, she has stepped up on a regular basis for Manchester City and has caught the eye on a couple of starts for England with her skill and guile on the ball. Scored the winner at Wembley in the 1-0 victory over Spain in February. Alessia Russo Position: Forward | Age: 26 | Caps: 50 | Number: 23 England's super-sub in the Euros, who shone as a starter at the World Cup. The Arsenal striker's record at major tournaments is impressive, with seven goals across her appearances at the Euros and World Cup, and she will lead the line again as No 9 after a brilliant season for the Gunners that saw her win the WSL Golden Boot award and win the Champions League. 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The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Who is Michelle Agyemang? England striker claims Euros place after ‘flattening' Leah Williamson
Michelle Agyemang knows how to make an impression. Leah Williamson still remembers the first time she saw the 19-year-old join in with the senior team at Arsenal, and perhaps even has the bruise to prove it. 'She come and flattened me,' Williamson says. 'I was too slow on it and I think I gave her a bit of stick about it, but in my head I thought: 'You need to move the ball quicker, because she's got something about her'.' England's captain was left similarly impressed as she discusses Agyemeng's impact at another training session a few years later, this time at St George's Park before the Lionesses head to Euro 2025. 'I was screaming for a pass and she put it top bins, and I thought: 'I ain't going to say nothing',' Williamson says. 'So my first impression was she let me know she was there, which I love. As a young player coming through, you can do all the fancy flicks and tricks you want, but somebody needs to know about you, and you need to tell people that you're there, and that's what she does.' It's a big introduction, but then Agyemang has made a big arrival to be the youngest player to be included in England's Euros squad. Back in April, Agyemeng was a last-minute call-up to England's senior squad ahead of the trip to Belgium, after Alessia Russo took a knock in their previous win and was forced to withdraw. With the Lionesses trailing in the second half, Sarina Wiegman turned to the teenager and within seconds, Agyemeng brought down a long ball on her thigh, swivelled, and fired a first-time volley into the net. A debut goal could not help England avoid defeat, but that night in Belgium may well be remembered as the moment where Agyemang made her mark: certainly, it's hard to imagine how the striker, who spent last season on loan at Brighton from Arsenal, could have made England's Euros squad without those 41 seconds unfolding as they did. In another world, she is spending her summer at the Under-19s Euros instead. 'The turnaround has been really quick,' Agyemeng says. And not just this season, either. Take Wiegman's first game in charge of the Lionesses at Wembley, a 4-0 victory over Northern Ireland in October 2021, secured by a Beth Mead hat-trick. Agyemeng played her part, too, but as a ballgirl on the sidelines. By that stage, those at Arsenal had a sense of what was coming. A lifelong Gunner, she signed for Arsenal at the age of six. She made her first-team debut at the age of 16, before loan spells at Watford and, last season, Brighton. Agyemang scored three goals in the Women's Super League for the Seagulls, where she learned to be more versatile. 'I consider myself a striker, but playing across the front three at Brighton was a challenge for me and it's helped me improve.' Agyemang is one of seven forwards in the England squad. The teenager comes with the least experience, but also perhaps an unknown quality for opponents to deal with. 'Something completely different,' Williamson said when asked what Agyemang can bring to the tournament. 'Michelle's athleticism is something I can only dream of. Playing against her, training against her at Arsenal as well I knew about Michelle before she came into this environment. Her first training session was just a demonstration of what she was about. 'I think it's good to know who you are but she knows how much I believe in her. So whenever I have a conversation [with Michelle], it's always about wanting her to be in the best environment to push herself as far as she can go. But I think those strengths, it's things that we don't necessarily have, which is a strength for me and the reason that she's here. It adds value.' Agyemang's coach at Brighton, Dario Vidosic, believes she can be a 'household name' in the future. 'She's got a beautiful strike, she knows how to hit a ball, she's dangerous, she possesses a lot of weapons,' he said earlier this season. And perhaps England have a secret one, even if Agyemang is keeping her feet on the ground. 'For myself personally, keeping my head down, getting ready for the tournament and whatever my role is, that's my main priority,' she says. 'And I'm sure that's the same for any other player going into a main tournament.'