Monaco arrive in north London for an enormous Champions League sport on Wednesday, as each groups seek for the victory that will see them take an enormous leap in the direction of a spot within the last-16 of the new-look competitors.

Solely aim distinction separates us from the Ligue 1 giants going into matchweek six, with each locked on 10 factors from our opening 5 video games, sufficient to occupy a coveted top-eight spot within the 36-team desk.

And people spots might show essential within the season’s last shakeup. In addition to receiving a bye into the spherical of 16 and avoiding two further play-off spherical video games involving the golf equipment ending ninth to twenty fourth, the elite eight will obtain house benefit within the second legs of these ties in March.

The advantages of sustaining a spot within the prime eight are large, however the query stays – what number of factors could be sufficient to clinch one?

At the beginning of the season, Opta determined to try to reply that. Utilizing their supercomputer, they simulated the league part fixtures 50,000 instances to see what number of factors have been wanted to complete within the prime eight, and certainly the highest 24.

And for us, and certainly Monaco, there may be some excellent news. Opta discovered that in 99% of their simulations, groups who collected 10 factors made it into the play-off spherical. That signifies that if their calculations are appropriate, each ourselves and Monaco will stroll out at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday protected of their data their European adventures will proceed within the spring.

Encouragingly, even 9 factors proved to be sufficient in 69% of simulations, so it appears we are able to now flip our consideration to securing a priceless prime eight spot – and Opta has a goal in thoughts.

Following their 50,000 simulations, they imagine 16 factors might be sufficient. That was the whole that introduced qualification in 98% of eventualities, whereas 15 factors was enough for eighth place in 73% of simulations. 14 factors in the meantime was sufficient in simply 28% of the supercomputer’s simulations, that means 15 appears to be the magic quantity to focus on.

With 10 in our pocket already, that will imply two wins from our last three video games towards Monaco, Dinamo Zagreb and Girona would see us into the final 16, get pleasure from two midweeks off watching the motion on TV, and take one step nearer to getting our arms on probably the most coveted piece of silverware in European soccer.