Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur in fight for £50m Champions League jackpot Qualification for the Champions League could also lead to calm for Arsenal. Wenger admitted that it was a relief to finally look forward to a summer at his own club that will not be dominated with speculation over the future of the star players. That could change, of course, if Arsenal do not win today at Newcastle and Spurs triumph at home to Sunderland. Failure will also affect, despite Arsenal's pulling power and resources, the players that Wenger can attract if he is serious about finally making that title challenge once again. There is an opportunity for us. But, anyway, when you finish the season strong - like we do - you prepare already for next season because you go with more certainty. Last year we had a new team and we have built up some belief and, of course, with belief we want to use it to win the game on Sunday. The game is also for next season, to know when you have to turn up; you turn up. That makes your future stronger as well: the strength and belief that you can start strong again, that you are on a run, and you don't interrupt that because of the summer break. You just know that there are some qualities in this squad that will come out next year. Arsenal are, indeed, on a strong run and top the Premier League form table - with 29 points from their past 12 matches; Spurs have gained 24. Since losing to Spurs in early March, which left them seven points behind their neighbours, Arsenal have won seven league games and drawn two. The Champions League victory at Bayern Munich, albeit in going out of the competition, was the turning point for Wenger. During that same sequence of games Spurs have not collapsed - their record is won four, drawn three, lost two - but their own European campaign, a prolonged run in the Europa League, also took its toll as Arsenal ate up their lead. "Let's first finish well on Sunday and then we'll give ourselves a good potential chance to win the championship next year by doing well in the transfer market this summer," Wenger said. Hopefully, for Arsenal it will be about arrivals and not departures with Fiorentina forward Stevan Jovetic among Wenger's main targets. He has confirmed that he is close to signing the France Under-21 striker Yaya Sanogo, who is out of contract at Auxerre. After losing Cesc Fàbregas, Samir Nasri and, perhaps most damagingly of all, Robin van Persie last year, it will be a relief to not be confronted with another damaging transfer saga. "It is very important because, last year and the year before ... the summers were very difficult," he said. Because of the Fàbregas case, and last year the Van Persie case. And Nasri the year before. We started pre-season, on camps, with every time a player being half-in or half-out, and that's not the best way mentally to prepare for the season. The Managers Arsenal Missing out on Champions League football will be a huge blow to Arsène Wenger, who has been in Europe's premier competition for 15 consecutive years. It is a remarkable achievement given the building of a new stadium and the competition Arsenal have faced during that time. But with Wenger going into the final year of his contract he will also be under pressure to be in the top four from the start of next season. If Arsenal stumble, Wenger's future will come under even more scrutiny. Tottenham Spurs have undoubtedly improved under Villas-Boas and even if they finish below last season's fourth place he has impressed with the way he has organised his team and the club. But he is also extremely ambitious and wants to win trophies. Not being in the Champions League will be a big disappointment, and although he will take the Europa League seriously - as he did this season - the bigger picture for him will be how Spurs react this summer. The squad needs strengthening to compete and he could grow frustrated if targets are again not secured. Villas-Boas's stock is rising in England but he has always been admired throughout Europe. The Players There are big question marks over the future of Bacary Sagna, Thomas Vermaelen and goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny but, for once, Arsenal do not face a summer of upheaval and a saga of losing one of their big stars. Instead the hope is they will spend - although failure to qualify for the Champions League may affect their ability to recruit the likes of Fiorentina's Stevan Jovetic. Arsenal may have to lower their sights if they fail to qualify, but a new goalkeeper is a must. Andre Villas-Boas wants to avoid a repeat of last summer when Spurs failed to land any of his main transfer targets - most notably Joäo Moutinho. Barcelona's David Villa is an ambitious target but he is being pursued while there are a number of young Brazilian players in Villas-Boas's sights. William Gallas will leave, as could Benoît Assou-Ekotto or Kyle Naughton, Emmanuel Adebayor and possibly Scott Parker. The big question is can they keep Gareth Bale? They are confident they can. The Board Missing out on the Champions League could have huge ramifications, despite Arsenal's claims they can take the blow. Fan discontent will grow, especially if big-name signings are not made, and there will be pressure for change in the boardroom. It could be a reality check for Arsenal while fans will fear they could slip out of contention. There is interest in mounting takeover bids from the Middle East while Uzbek industrialist, Alisher Usmanov, who has a near 30 per cent stake, must decide on his next move. Spurs are on an upward trajectory with a vibrant coach, a good young team, a new training ground and plans for a new stadium, so there are unlikely to be any major changes. That said, Chairman Daniel Levy knows there has been pressure on the club's finances without Champions League football - White Hart Lane at 36,000 capacity is just too small - and supporters will be frustrated if they miss out once again. Play-off Potential If Chelsea draw against Everton and Arsenal win, scoring two goals more than the west London club in the process, the two teams will play-off to decide who finishes third in the table and avoids having to play a Champions League qualifier next season. The venue for the game will be Villa Park, with it due to be played on May 26. edited by Mark Jeffries