Arsenal will have to wait if they want to join the G14 group of European soccer's biggest clubs.

The G14 consists of the real giants of European football, and was until recently a secretive and unofficial body. It emerged from the shadows to exert pressure on UEFA, among others, to get its way on issues such as the development of the Champions League. Man Utd and Liverpool are so far the only two British members.

The group met in Milan on Tuesday, but could not agree on the rules for expansion. Arsenal and Anderlecht had been told any application would be looked upon favourably - and there were plenty of other clubs joining the queue to get in. But opposition from, reportedly, Barcelona and Marseille prevented the door being opened to other teams.

If Arsenal do want to join the club - and that's by no means a foregone conclusion, it won't be until the next G14 meeting in August.