Arsenal are in a commanding position over their Premier League title rivals when it comes to Europe
07:00, 24 Jan 2026
Mikel Arteta
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Arsenal have been very impressive in Europe this season (Photo by Mairo Cinquetti/NurPhoto via Getty Images)(Image: )
Things could not be going much better for Arsenal at the minute. Not only are the Gunners top of the Premier League, they are also top of the Champions League league phase, in the Carabao Cup semi-final and in the FA Cup fourth round.
Mikel Arteta's side are fighting on all four fronts this season with every member of the squad pulling their weight. While the north Londoners are seven points clear of Manchester City and Aston Villa in the English top flight, it is what they have done in the Champions League which has perhaps been most surprising.
After winning all seven of their league phase matches so far, Arsenal have already ensured they will finish in the top two. The teams who finish in the top eight automatically progress to the round of 16 stage. Teams who finish ninth to 24th go through to a two-legged knockout play-off, with those games scheduled for February 17/18 and February 24/25.
Manchester City could well be forced to play a two-legged play-off, with Pep Guardiola's side currently 11th following their shock 3-1 defeat to Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in midweek. City must beat Galatasaray at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, January 28 to give themselves a strong chance of a top-eight finish – though with seven other teams alongside them on 13 points it could come down to goal difference.
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A point could still be enough to avoid a two-legged play-off, but only in the event of a set of highly unlikely results elsewhere. That means, then, that City may be forced to play two extra games in February, while Arsenal will have the time off, which could be a huge boost in the Premier League title race.
It means Arsenal will have a whole week to prepare for the North London Derby clash against Tottenham on February 22, with the Gunners set to play Wigan in the FA Cup fourth round seven days prior. Arteta will then have another week on the training pitches with his squad before the Gunners face Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on March 1.
City, meanwhile, face somewhat of a fixture nightmare should they be forced to play the play-off matches. The first leg would be sandwiched between the FA Cup fourth round clash against Salford City and a tricky league clash away at Newcastle. The second leg would come just days before another away trip, this time to Leeds United.
The final Champions League league phase table will officially be confirmed after Wednesday's round of fixtures, which means Arteta will have clarity about the fixtures his title rivals will play over the coming months. Aston Villa look set to avoid a play-off tie in the Europa League due to their impressive performances in Europe.
Arteta was extremely proud of his side after the midweek 3-1 win over Inter Milan and referenced his team's achievements so far. "We're very proud, not only for tonight's game, but what we've done in the competition so far in seven matches," the Spaniard said.
"With one game to go, to be already in the position that we want to be is a massive prize to the team, because we know how difficult it is, and then tonight it was a test. Probably we didn't have the necessity in terms of the points, but we really had the hunger and the desire to come to a place like this, against a top, top side, and prove what we are and what we can do. I'm really pleased with what I've seen."
Asked if Arsenal could win silverware this season, Arteta added: "We'll see. It's too early yet, but the aim is to get to May with the possibility of winning, and every day we have to make an effort, to have the energy that we've played today, to have this ambition, and if that's the case, maybe we'll take it."
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