Arsenal to avoid Real Madrid as Champions League group stage pots confirmed after Man City win

Arsenal will discover their 2023/24 Champions League group phase fate when the draw is made in August, but we already know a few teams they won't be facing

Arsenal have to wait another two months to discover their opponents in next season's Champions League group phase, but they already know which teams they'll avoid.

Following Manchester City's 1-0 win over Internazionale on Saturday night, the 2022/23 campaign can now be consigned to the history books and attention will immediately turn to next season and whether or not Pep Guardiola's side are able to retain their crown or if the Serie A giants can go one better.

But as both teams will be back in UEFA's top-tier competition next season, it makes the draw for the Champions League group phase a lot clearer for the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United, Barcelona and the 27 other teams that will be waiting to discover their fates come the end of August.

As things stand, 26 teams have already qualified for the group phase. This includes Sevilla, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Real Sociedad, Napoli, Lazio, Inter, AC Milan, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Union Berlin, Paris Saint-Germain, Lens, Benfica, Porto, Feyenoord, Shakhtar Donetsk, Red Bull Salzburg, Red Star Belgrade and Celtic.

Along with the Gunners and both Manchester clubs, Newcastle United are the other Premier League representative in the Champions League next season and they'll eventually be joined in the group stage by six other teams. From there the sides will be drawn against one team from each of the eight other pots.

Although, as per UEFA rules, clubs cannot be drawn against teams from the same association, which means, for example, Arsenal will avoid the aforementioned trio in the group stage.

Furthermore, as the Gunners are confirmed to be in Pot 2 when the 2023/24 Champions League group stage draw commences later in the year, they also can't be paired with 14-time winners in Real Madrid, Internazionale, Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, RB Leipzig or Porto.

They can, however, be drawn against either Sevilla, Barcelona, Napoli, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica or Feyenoord with the latter's place in Pot 1 being confirmed as a result of Man City's win over Inter.

Arsenal can then come up against one of Shakhtar Donetsk, Red Bull Salzburg, AC Milan, Lazio or Red Star Belgrade from Pot 3. Currently, Union Berlin and Lens are the only two clubs confirmed in Pot 4 and it won't be until August when the identity of the remaining six teams are be revealed.

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