Why Arsenal are set for group of death upon return to the Champions League – as Arsenal set to face tougher opponent
After a six-year absence from the Champions League, Arsenal have finally sealed their return to club football’s biggest competition.
However, the Gunners could be met with an unfavourable draw when they enter the group stages next season.
Mikel Arteta’s side are currently top of the Premier League but after their 4-1 defeat to Manchester City, the latter are favourites for the title thanks to their two games in hand.
A second place finish for Arsenal could spell bad news for their Champions League hopes, with a group of death on the cards.
UEFA determine the seedings for the teams and groups by using their coefficient system.
Arsenal are currently 23rd in the list due to a lack of appearances in the tournament and failure to progress far in the Europa League.
All 32 teams that qualify are split into four pots consisting of eight sides, with pot 1 having the Champions League and Europa League winners, and the champions of Europe’s top six leagues.
That leaves 24 other teams to be seeded, with their rankings in the coefficient system determining what pots they go in.
If Arsenal’s current standing stays the same they will go into pot 3 if all the teams above them qualify.
However, they could very well sneak into pot two if seven of the 22 teams above them in the list don’t make it into next season’s tournament.
Three of those sides could come from the Premier League as Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham are unlikely to finish in the top four.
Arsenal still have a chance of winning the league and should they do so, they will automatically go into pot 1.
