Arsenal have learned their Champions League draw for the remainder of the competition, with their path to the final now confirmed.
After finishing top of the Champions League’s League Phase, Arsenal were able to skip the knockout phase play-off round that took place over the last week, receiving a bye to the last-16.
Arsenal’s first-place finish also guaranteed that the Gunners will play at home in the second leg of the last-16, as well as in the quarter-finals and semi-final if they make it that far.
In addition, Arsenal knew they couldn’t face second-place Bayern Munich until the final of the competition, as the two were guaranteed to be on opposite sides of the draw.
Following the conclusion of the knockout phase play-offs this week, Arsenal knew they’d face either Bayer Leverkusen or Atalanta in the next round, and the draw has now confirmed it will be Bayer Leverkusen.
Beyond that, if Arsenal make it, they’ll face either Bodo/Glimt or Sporting CP in the quarter-finals, depending on the winner of their tie. Then they’d take on Newcastle United, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, or Spurs in the semi-finals.
Every other team remaining in the competition cannot play Arsenal until the final, keeping the Gunners apart from teams like Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Real Madrid, PSG, and of course Bayern.
Champions League schedule
- March 10th/11th: Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal – Last-16 first leg
- March 17/18th – Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen – Last-16 second leg
- April 7/8th – Quarter-final first leg (away)
- April 14/15th – Quarter-final second leg (home)
- April 28/29th – Semi-final first leg (away)
- May 5/6th – Semi-final second leg (home)
- May 30th – Final
Arsenal will play Mansfield Town (a) before the last-16 first leg, with a game against Everton (h) between the two legs, and the League Cup final after the second leg.
The exact dates of the last-16 tie should be confirmed by the end of the day, and Arsenal will likely be hoping to play the second leg on Tuesday, March 17th to provide maximum rest before the League Cup final.
If they reach the Champions League quarter-final, Arsenal will play the first leg after a potential FA Cup quarter-final, before facing Bournemouth (h) between the two legs, then Manchester City (a) after the second leg.
As for the semi-final, Arsenal would face Newcastle United (h) before the first leg, Fulham (h) between the two legs, and West Ham United (a) after the second leg.
Since the FA Cup final is now held before the end of the Premier League campaign, Arsenal are guaranteed a free midweek between the end of the league and the Champions League final, should they make it.