As the Champions League group stage concludes, Arsenal clinches the top spot in their group under Mikel Arteta’s debut season as manager. This achievement propels the Gunners into the highly anticipated last-16 stage, and fans await the draw on Monday, December 18th, at 11:00 GMT, live on UEFA.com.
This draw marks the beginning of Arsenal’s last-16 journey, with the first leg set for February 13th, 14th, 20th, or 21st, and the return fixture scheduled for March 5th, 6th, 12th, or 13th. Arsenal benefits from playing the second leg at home due to their impressive group-stage performance as group winners.
Despite the excitement, certain restrictions add intrigue to Arsenal’s potential opponents. They cannot face the runner-up from their own group, PSV Eindhoven, and UEFA regulations forbid clashes with teams from their domestic league.
Fortunately, with Manchester United and Newcastle United out of the equation and Manchester City securing their group’s top spot, facing a domestic rival is ruled out.
Possible rivals for Arsenal in the last-16 draw include FC Copenhagen from Denmark, Napoli, Inter Milan, and Lazio from Italy, Paris Saint-Germain from France, RB Leipzig from Germany, and FC Porto from Portugal. Each matchup presents its unique challenges and excitement for Arsenal supporters.
Although Arsenal avoids football giants like Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Real Sociedad, Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City, and FC Barcelona in the last-16 draw, the possibility of encountering them exists in the quarter-finals. The quarter-finals draw has no restrictions, offering Arsenal an open path if they progress.
Arsenal fans eagerly anticipate the unfolding matchups as the Champions League knockout stage progresses, hoping for a successful journey deeper into the competition under Arteta’s guidance. Monday’s draw sets the stage for thrilling encounters and potential triumphs that could further establish Arsenal’s presence in this prestigious tournament.
