West Ham could be in line to play a huge part in an additional European place for Premier League sides this season.

Our Hammers and Arsenal both face two legs against German opposition in their respective European competitions. Mikel Arteta’s side drew 2-2 in their first leg against Bayern last night and the Hammers play the first leg of their Europa League quarter final against Leverkusen tomorrow night. If both West Ham and Arsenal are to be victorious over their two legs, this will help claim a fifth Champions League spot for the Premier League.

Victory for both sides would create a secure lead for Premier League clubs ahead of Bundesliga sides in the UEFA coefficient. Germany are currently second in the coefficient rankings with an average of 16.357, but England are hot on their heels with a current average of 16.250.

Whilst Manchester City and Aston Villa can also improve the Premier League’s chance of winning an extra Champions League spot, as Germany are the league’s greatest challenge in terms of the coefficient rankings, wins for both West Ham and Arsenal are far more significant.

West Ham’s opponents and Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen, who are one win away from their first Bundesliga titile, are one of the two German sides left in European competitions this season. The Hammers dominant victory against Freiburg in the Europa League round of 16 last month helped reduce the gap and knocked another Bundesliga side out of Europe.

Both West Ham and Arsenal’s quarter final ties, against Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich respectively, place Tottenham and their supporters in the strange predicament of hoping their two biggest league rivals do well and progress in Europe as the extra Champions League place could help Ange Postecoglu’s side, who are in a battle for fourth place with Aston Villa, play in next season’s revamped version of the competition.