Arsenal will shortly discover their Champions League group stage opponents as the much-anticipated draw takes place from 5pm on Thursday at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco
A big few days for Arsenal awaits. Not only is transfer deadline day fast approaching and a clash against Manchester United on the horizon, but Mikel Arteta's side will also discover their fate in the Champions League.
So with that said, which teams have already qualified for the Champions League? Who are the six other teams that are on course to qualify? What could Arsenal's group look like when the draw is made later in the week? Well, football.london answers all those questions and more.
Likely opponents
Below is how things stand going into the second leg of the Champions League play-off round as Arsenal will be joined in the competition by Rangers if they overcome PSV Eindhoven at this stage for the second year in a row, whilst Lucas Torreira's Galatasaray holding a slender advantage over Molde.
Young Boys vs Maccabi Haifa (0-0)
Galatasaray vs Molde (3-2)
Panathinaikos vs Braga (1-2)
AEK Athens vs Royal Antwerp (0-1)
Copenhagen vs Raków Czestochowa (1-0)
PSV Eindhoven vs Rangers (2-2)
Qualified teams
Although clubs cannot be drawn against teams from the same association, which means, for example, Arsenal will avoid Man United in the group stage.
Confirmed pots
Pot 1 and Pot 2 have been finalised with Arsenal and Man United in the latter. The remaining pots will be completed once the Champions League play-off round ties are over but AC Milan are confirmed to be in Pot 3 which means they can be paired with the Gunners in the group stage.
Pot 1: Manchester City, Sevilla, Barcelona, Napoli, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica, Feyenoord
Pot 2:Arsenal, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Inter, Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, Porto, RB Leipzig
Pot 3: AC Milan, Lazio, Shakhtar Donetsk, Red Bull Salzburg, Red Star Belgrade
Pot 4: Newcastle United, Lens, Union Berlin
To be assigned a pot: Real Sociedad, Celtic
Rule changes
Arsenal's last Champions League fixture was in March 2017 and in truth, not a great deal has changed since. Except for the away goals rule that has been abolished, the format is very much the same. Although, this season is the last in its current version as UEFA have already announced plans for the 2024/25 season where there will be a single league made up of all 36 competing clubs.
This will result in a departure from the current format of a 32-team group stage and most importantly, as the statement explained: "This will give four more sides the opportunity to compete against the best clubs in Europe."
Unlike in the Europa League last season where Arsenal received a bye as a result of topping their group, the top two teams in all Champions League groups automatically qualify for the round of 16 stage and therefore Arteta's side won't have to wait until March of next year to resume their European journey should they advance
Finally, Champions League prize money is a lot more lucrative than the Europa League. If last season is anything to go by then the Gunners will bank £13.4million just by taking part in the group phase of the former which is a significant increase on the £3.1m they received for reaching the group stage of the latter.
Sämïwïlz
0
The greatest UCL team on Earth. Participating in the UCL 17yrs in role is not for every club...... Arsenal is the real deal the UCL had been missing..., Time to see beautiful football in the UCL❤️❤️❤️❤️
The greatest UCL team with zero ucls ???
FcBayernFürimmer
0
Go and check the records. You talking of spank when we spank you on your own stadium. When we play equal, Bayern is never match to Arsenal.
I don't need to check the records dum dum I watched tbe games live each time! you're the one with the red jersey with white sleeves yeah!?? you twonk!! [Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
malablata
0
lol where do you get you had red cards each time we played and spanked arsenal! bayern rate barca's performances way better than arsenals! trust me in bavaria and the bayern fan base we laugh at arsenal far more than barca! they played far better then arsenal! lol don't compare arsenal to barcelona for f#ck sake! you were a joke! every game Red card or not! talk about delusional!! 🙄 lol 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆
Go and check the records. You talking of spank when we spank you on your own stadium. When we play equal, Bayern is never match to Arsenal.
Zusblmprst
1
lmao at delusional arsenal fans!! full strength bayern will chew up and spit out arsenal as bad as they have before!! lol I don't think people understand what went on last season with injuries change of manager mid season & for no reason! before then we had scored the most goals in europe not city not napoli ... we had just won another 8 ucl games only conceding 2 goals and not conceding against inter milan, barca, and psg scoring 20+ goals!! we were steam rolling before all of that bad luck and our own self destruction by sacking nagglesmann! arsenal fans sound exactly like barcelona fans again they keep getting their delusional reality checks you will be no different!! even after a bunch of hidings you still dont register the gulf in the clubs especiallyin europe!!
you explain tire 🥱
FcBayernFürimmer
0
Stop making Barca out of us. The last time we lost those matches, we were on red cards in both games. Bayern weren't a match for us when our players were equal. It's no shame to lost when you are a man down. Look at your Barca with their so-called goat losing 8-2 in a match.
lol where do you get you had red cards each time we played and spanked arsenal! bayern rate barca's performances way better than arsenals! trust me in bavaria and the bayern fan base we laugh at arsenal far more than barca! they played far better then arsenal! lol don't compare arsenal to barcelona for f#ck sake! you were a joke! every game Red card or not! talk about delusional!! 🙄 lol 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆
malablata
0
lol what are you on about? you needed 6 years out after the performances and contributions you were putting put!! joke club in europe the last 2 x you played bayern you coped 3 5-1's in a row!! you're an absolute mino club in europe and that's being generous!
Stop making Barca out of us. The last time we lost those matches, we were on red cards in both games. Bayern weren't a match for us when our players were equal. It's no shame to lost when you are a man down. Look at your Barca with their so-called goat losing 8-2 in a match.
FcBayernFürimmer
0
lmao at delusional arsenal fans!! full strength bayern will chew up and spit out arsenal as bad as they have before!! lol I don't think people understand what went on last season with injuries change of manager mid season & for no reason! before then we had scored the most goals in europe not city not napoli ... we had just won another 8 ucl games only conceding 2 goals and not conceding against inter milan, barca, and psg scoring 20+ goals!! we were steam rolling before all of that bad luck and our own self destruction by sacking nagglesmann! arsenal fans sound exactly like barcelona fans again they keep getting their delusional reality checks you will be no different!! even after a bunch of hidings you still dont register the gulf in the clubs especiallyin europe!!
FcBayernFürimmer
0
Bayern Munich is not as strong as it used to be. This time they'll face it rough against the gunners
lmao full strength bayern will chew up and spit our arsenal as bad as they have before!! lol I don't think people understand what went on last season with injuries change of manager mid season for no reason! we were steam rolling before all of that! you sound like barcelona fans again they keep getting their delusional reality checks!! even after a bunch of hidings!!
FcBayernFürimmer
0
The greatest UCL team on Earth. Participating in the UCL 17yrs in role is not for every club...... Arsenal is the real deal the UCL had been missing..., Time to see beautiful football in the UCL❤️❤️❤️❤️
lol what are you on about? you needed 6 years out after the performances and contributions you were putting put!! joke club in europe the last 2 x you played bayern you coped 3 5-1's in a row!! you're an absolute mino club in europe and that's being generous!
malablata
1
The greatest UCL team on Earth. Participating in the UCL 17yrs in role is not for every club...... Arsenal is the real deal the UCL had been missing..., Time to see beautiful football in the UCL❤️❤️❤️❤️
rabdoprz
0
so pity Chelsea will not play UCL
nuhaekmory
0
If you know you know.....
TheRyttteddevil
0
I just want to see Arsenal & Bayern at the same group. It'll prove, how good Arsenal is.
Arsenal is not good, they only had good moment last season.
Nuhadikmrt
0
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Nuhadikmrt
0
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Nuhadikmrt
0
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Nuhadikmrt
0
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Nuhadikmrt
0
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ANDRE360
0
Would quickly apply gender equality policy, and ask my wife to do her part.😂😂😂
[image]
didn't that same gender speak 1-on-1 with the Serpent in the garden, Hmmmmmmm i didn't call anybody name
Andrew_Mwqkoma
2
Whoever comes our way we will punish the person
Jaoaciou
0
Poor arseanal not going beyond stage playoffs
You don't even know your left and right of football.
YakubuAutaSaad
0
Poor arseanal not going beyond stage playoffs
Poor you not to even know that Arsenal will not play in the playoffs.
Badhur
5
Poor arseanal not going beyond stage playoffs
SakibRahi
5
I just want to see Arsenal & Bayern at the same group. It'll prove, how good Arsenal is.
Jabinopyz
1
amradt and man united
Jabinopyz
0
man united forward greenwood new
Jabinopyz
2
where is greenwood now
ShehuTutu
1
Ever ready.
JoyNg01
4
Would quickly apply gender equality policy, and ask my wife to do her part.😂😂😂
Puwcdeklmr
2
Why are You guys so obsessed with Arsenal as if it's their first time playing in the champions League.. You're so irritating find something else to write on or have you ran out of what to write???
richkid842
3
Arsenal fans, after seeing the pot 1 teams, will be like
Yutakmouyz
1
Bayern checking Arsenal before UCL draw
[image]
Bayern Munich is not as strong as it used to be. This time they'll face it rough against the gunners
Yutakmouyz
2
Where is the link?
ishti
4
Bayern checking Arsenal before UCL draw