A crushing 6-0 victory over Lens helped Arsenal book their place in the last 16 of the Champions League as they continue their impressive return to the competition.
The French side had won the reverse fixture, but that remains the Gunners' only group stage defeat. Six different players found the net at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night, when a point was needed to qualify but a win ensures top spot.
With one round of fixtures remaining, Arsenal know they'll face one of the group runners-up in the round of 16. There are still loose ends to tie up in the other groups, but Mirror Football has the details of who they could face next.
With one game left, there are only two teams assured of second spot in their group. One of those is PSV - who Arsenal can't face again after playing them in the group stage - and the other is RB Leipzig, who they could meet.
Teams from the same country can't meet in the round of 16. This means Newcastle and Manchester United - who can both finish second in their respective groups - can't be drawn against the Gunners.
That leaves Arsenal with the following options, depending on who finishes second in their respective group: Napoli or Braga, Real Sociedad or Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid or Lazio, Borussia Dortmund, PSG or AC Milan, RB Leipzig, Barcelona, Porto or Shakhtar Donetsk, and Galatasaray or FC Copenhagen.
Some of those opponents are more likely than others. Barcelona are all but assured of top spot in their group, with one of Porto and Shakhtar expected to finish as runner-up, while Dortmund need just a point from their own final game to top their group and avoid the Gunners.
"Today was the day to get it done. We did it in a beautiful way," Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta told TNT Sports after the victory over Lens.
"We scored five [first-half] goals against a really good side. You can become really sloppy. And there were parts of the second half with different behaviours but we stayed really focused.
"It's great because the schedule we have at the moment is crazy," he said after sealing top spot. "We're already thinking about Wolves in 72 hours. We have to demand more from each other. We'll have to be well prepared for Wolves."
Arsenal do have one more Champions League game to come, away against a PSV side who they beat 4-0 in the group stage opener. However, after making sure of top spot in the group, they may choose to rest players.
i_ashath
471
I told you that Red gunner’s are going to lift UCL for sure 🔫♥️🔥
MohamedArsenalist
458
all the way to champions Arsenal this season In shaa Allah
Chap Kim
331
did the mirror fotbul said Man u an Newcastle would finish second of their respective groups?
Fataelnst
292
Let them bring any team. We gunners are braced for the challenge!
MUTINDO
124
We fear no one... We are the Gunners.. The Champions of the year 2023-2024 🔥🔥Just show us our next opponent 🔥Gunners For Life 🤍❤️🔥🔥...