Arsenal’s potential Champions League opponents for final 16
Arsenal stay one of many few European giants by no means to have triumphed within the Champions League however that might change come the tip of Might.
The Gunners are trying to find their first ever title within the competitors and have made a powerful begin on this 12 months’s new-look marketing campaign. They completed third in the course of the inaugural league part after successful six of their eight encounters and secured their berth within the final 16 because of this.
Having averted an undesirable two-legged play-off, Arsenal will enter the subsequent spherical in March with contemporary legs as they put together to battle for development to the quarter-finals for the second successive season.
Listed below are the opponents that Arsenal may face within the Champions League spherical of 16.
So far as final 16 opponents go, Arsenal shall be handed one of many easier fixtures. Whereas they do not but know their actual opponents, they may face Dutch adversaries within the type of PSV Eindhoven or Feyenoord.
Each upset the percentages and conquered Italian antagonists in the course of the play-off spherical, with PSV triumphing over Juventus in extra-time of their second leg victory and Feyenoord, who could possibly be managed by former Gunner Robin van Persie by the point the ties come round, beating seven-time European champions AC Milan 2-1 on combination.
2022/23 finalists Inter will face the Dutch opponents that Arsenal keep away from in the course of the upcoming draw.
Arsenal shall be robust favourites irrespective of their final 16 challengers however Mikel Arteta’s males would probably favor to face Feyenoord within the subsequent spherical. The Dutch aspect haven’t been as spectacular since Arne Slot’s departure for Liverpool final summer time and are at present fourth within the Eredivisie desk – 12 factors worse off then PSV.
Having misplaced star striker Santiago Gimenez in January – who sarcastically joined Milan and scored towards Feyenoord within the play-offs – the Rotterdam outfit will battle to penetrate a cussed Arsenal defence.
PSV’s attacking ingenuity ought to trigger the Gunners better points, with Peter Bosz’s reigning Eredivisie champions in fantastic goalscoring kind. They’ve already crushed Juventus and Liverpool in Europe this season and have additionally taken factors off Paris Saint-Germain.
Arsenal have confronted PSV throughout the final two seasons in Europe and had been defeated by the Eindhoven membership in the course of the Europa League group stage in 2022/23. Nonetheless, a 4-0 thrashing adopted within the Champions League final 12 months on the Emirates Stadium earlier than a 1-1 draw within the Netherlands.
Arsenal supporters shall be eager to find their final 16 opponents and might tune into the Champions League draw at 11:00 GMT on Friday 21 February. The occasion shall be staged on the Home of European Soccer in Switzerland and streamed dwell on UEFA’s official web site.
The Gunners will play the primary leg of their final 16 tie on 4-5 March earlier than the return fixture on the Emirates on 11-12 March.
