Arsenal’s potential opponents in the League Cup third round will be limited by their participation in the Champions League, according to a report.

BRENTFORD, ENGLAND: Charles Sagoe Jr of Arsenal thanks the support pushed by Captain Martin Odegaard during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Brentford and Arsenal at Gtech Community Stadium on September 27, 2023. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
BRENTFORD, ENGLAND: Charles Sagoe Jr of Arsenal thanks the support pushed by Captain Martin Odegaard during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Brentford and Arsenal at Gtech Community Stadium on September 27, 2023. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

In previous years, the League Cup has had a completely open draw from the third round onwards, with any club capable of drawing any club remaining in the competition.

Only the first two rounds of the competition had any restrictions on the draw, with the lower-league clubs split into “northern” and “southern” sections for those early rounds to reduce travel time.

By the time Arsenal join the competition in the third round, there are usually no geographical restrictions. But The Telegraph report that there will be one new restriction on Arsenal’s third-round opponent in 2024/25.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 12: Leandro Trossard of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammate Kai Havertz during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal FC at Old Trafford on May 12, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND: Leandro Trossard of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammate Kai Havertz during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal FC at Old Trafford on May 12, 2024. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

According to the report, Champions League teams will not be able to face Europa League teams in the third round of the League Cup.

Thus, Arsenal won’t be able to draw Manchester United or Spurs, with the teams seeded in the draw to avoid that outcome.

As for why, fixture changes for next season mean that there’s no completely free week for the League Cup in September.

The Telegraph report that the third round will be split over two midweeks, and it’s fair to assume those two midweeks will be September 17-18th and September 24th-25th.

The issue is that the Champions League clubs have fixtures on September 17th-19th, and the Europa League clubs have fixtures on September 25-26th. So if Arsenal drew Manchester United, neither midweek would be available for the game.

There would be no issue with Arsenal facing the other Champions League clubs, however, nor the Europa Conference League clubs. So Manchester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Chelsea should all be available to face Arsenal.

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Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta (L) hugs Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola at the end of the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on March 31, 2024. (Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images)

The report adds that there may also be scheduling issues for round five of the League Cup, the quarter-final stage.

The Europa Conference League has its final League Stage matchday on December 19th, the same midweek the League Cup quarter-finals usually take place. So if Chelsea reach the League Cup quarter-finals, they’ll have a problem.

It’s not clear exactly how that clash would be resolved, and the competition organisers are keeping their options open for now.

The rest of the competition should play out as in any other year. Arsenal just won’t be able to face Manchester United or Spurs in the third round, and they may have scheduling issues if they draw Chelsea in the quarter-finals.