Arsenal’s route to the Champions League quarter-finals is now clear, with their round-of-16 opponents narrowed down to just two teams ahead of Friday’s draw.
After finishing third in the League Phase, Mikel Arteta’s side secured direct qualification for the knockout rounds, avoiding the play-off round that determined the final eight teams.
Those play-offs saw PSV Eindhoven stun Juventus, winning 4-3 on aggregate after extra time in the second leg, while Feyenoord produced late drama against AC Milan, with a stoppage-time equaliser sending them through 2-1 over two legs.
With those results confirmed, Arsenal’s round-of-16 opposition is now set to be either PSV or Feyenoord, with the draw taking place at 11:00 GMT on Friday, February 21, at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland.
Under UEFA’s structured bracket system, teams were paired based on their league phase standings, ensuring that Arsenal, as the third seed, will face either the 14th-placed or 19th-placed team from the league phase.
Arsenal will host the second leg at the Emirates Stadium, as all higher-seeded teams are granted the advantage of playing their return fixture at home.
With Liverpool and Aston Villa also securing seeded spots, England retains a strong presence in the latter stages of the competition. However, the path forward will be anything but easy, with Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and Paris Saint-Germain lurking in the draw.
For Arsenal, this knockout stage presents their best opportunity in years to stake a claim among Europe’s elite. Their form in the Premier League, coupled with their ability to avoid heavyweights like Real Madrid in this round, provides optimism that they can advance deeper into the tournament.
The round-of-16 ties will be played on March 4/5 and March 11/12, with the quarter-finals to follow in April.
If Arsenal can progress, they will they face one of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the quarter-final.
You can watch the draw live on Youtube and TNT Sports/discovery+.