London derby... in Birmingham! Chelsea v Arsenal play-off set for Villa Park to throw mega-money US tour into doubt

Arsenal and Chelsea will travel to Birmingham for the potential Premier League third-place play-off after Villa Park was confirmed as the venue - should one be required.

The match to decide who will get the automatic place in the Champions League group stages will be held on Sunday May 26.

The kick-off time is still to be confirmed, although it will be an early afternoon start, and tickets will be priced at £20 and £30.

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The scheduling means Chelsea's American tour, with two games against Manchester City to be held on May 23 and 25, will be in jeopardy if the play-off is required.

The match will only be held if Arsenal and Chelsea finish the season level on points, goal difference and goals scored.

Chelsea are currently two points ahead of Arsenal going into the final day on Sunday, with a goal difference of 35 and goals scored at 73.

Arsenal's goal difference is 34, having scored 71 and conceded 37.

This means that if Chelsea were to draw with Everton at Stamford Bridge on Sunday and Arsene Wenger's side beat Newcastle by one goal and also concede at least one - so 2-1, 3-2, 4-3 etc - then they will be all square.

The possibility of an end of season play-off has been planned for in the past, back in the 1995-96 season when Manchester United and Newcastle United were fighting it out for the title. Despite being neck and neck for much of the  run-in, United won the league without the need for a play-off.

Preparations for the possible play-off in 1996 went as far as printing tickets for the game. The proposal was to stage the game at Wembley with two post-season dates, May 16 and May 21, identified and ticket prices set at £20.

PS In an admittedly more unlikely scenario, if Tottenham draw 6-6 against Sunderland and Arsenal lose 15-0 to Newcastle, there would be a play-off to decide the final Champions League place. Don't hold your breath...