Arsenal are aiming to go one step further in the Champions League after agonisingly losing the final last season. Mikel Arteta’s side were a penalty shootout away from winning the trophy for the first time in the club’s history.
The Gunners have made a positive start to their Premier League title defence and will want to be just as impressive in European competition. Arsenal topped the previous league phase with a perfect winning record, which included notable victories over Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan.
In the Champions League knockout rounds, Arteta’s team knocked out Bayer Leverkusen, Sporting CP and Atletico on their way to the final. The club will hope their new signings can finally get Arsenal over the line after ultimately coming up short against Paris Saint-Germain, despite holding the European champions to a 1-1 draw after extra time.
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However, Arteta’s squad could face a potentially tricky path to the knockout stages ahead of the Champions League draw on Thursday. football.london takes a closer look at the toughest eight opponents the Gunners could be pitted against during the league phase.
Pot one – PSG and Bayern Munich
As Arsenal cannot face another English side, the Gunners only have six potential pot one opponents, with Manchester City and Liverpool joining them as top seeds. However, there are still no easy options on the list, with Inter Milan and the La Liga trio of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico among the possible matchups.
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However, PSG remain the team to beat in European football, with Luis Enrique’s side successfully retaining the Champions League trophy. The French club have remarkably added to their formidable attacking options, bringing in Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche, Ajax’s Mika Godts and Ferran Torres from Barcelona this summer.
While being drawn against PSG would allow Arteta’s team an early rematch of the Champions League final, Enrique’s side remain the most challenging side in pot one. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich were unlucky not to face Arsenal in Budapest after pushing PSG to their limit in their semi-final ties and would be another tough side to face.
The German champions, who are spearheaded by England captain Harry Kane, eliminated Real Madrid in the quarter-finals last season, while their 5-4 first-leg defeat to PSG will live long in the memory. Historically, Bayern have won eight and drawn three of their 15 meetings with Arsenal but Arteta’s team would be encouraged by their 3-1 victory last November.
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Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhaes
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Arsenal being drawn against PSG would be a rematch of the Champions League final(Image: Marvin Ibo Guengoer – GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)
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Pot two – Borussia Dortmund and Porto
Borussia Dortmund possess significant Champions League pedigree, last reaching the final in 2024. The German side underperformed last season, losing in the knockout play-off round to Atalanta.
However, a potential away trip to the Westfalenstadion could prove to be an intimidating occasion for Arsenal. The Gunners hold a slight historical advantage over Dortmund, having won four and drawn one of their eight head-to-head meetings.
Similarly, Porto could prove a stern test for the Gunners. Francesco Farioli’s squad recently stormed to the league title, losing only two games in 34 matches.
In Europe, the Portuguese giants were narrowly defeated by Nottingham Forest in the Europa League quarter-finals last term. However, the club are accustomed to huge Champions League nights, last playing Arsenal in the round of 16 during the 2023/24 campaign.
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Fabio Silva celebrates scoring for Borussia Dortmund
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Borussia Dortmund remain a top team in Germany(Image: Christina Pahnke – sampics/Getty Images)
Pot three – Napoli and Bodo/Glimt
Napoli finished second in Serie A last season, falling short of defending the league title. Massimiliano Allegri has replaced Antonio Conte as manager, ensuring that an experienced coach remains in the dugout.
Former Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay has become a hero in Naples, while Kevin De Bruyne also remains part of the Italian club’s squad. The Gunners have only faced Napoli twice in their history, with both sides claiming 2-0 victories during the 2013/14 group stage.
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Bodo/Glimt slot into pot three after the Norwegian side overcame Dutch outfit NEC Nijmegen in their play-off clash. Kjetil Knutsen’s squad recently surpassed expectations by reaching the last 16 of the Champions League, securing victories over Man City, Atletico and Inter. Arsenal, who played Bodo/Glimt during the 2022/23 Europa League, will not want to add their name to the club’s growing list of notable scalps.
Como manager Cesc Fabregas
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Former Arsenal star Cesc Fabregas could face Arsenal in the Champions League as Como manager(Image: Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)
Pot four – Como and Lens
Como are set to make history as the Italian side embark on their first-ever European campaign, having finished fourth in Serie A. Former Arsenal icon Cesc Fabregas, who clocked up 303 appearances for the Gunners, has been in charge of Como for almost three years and previously oversaw the club’s promotion from Serie B in 2024.
