Arsenal have topped the Champions League group phase standings after winning all eight of their matches following victory over FC Kairat Almaty
Ryan Taylor
22:16, 28 Jan 2026
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Arsenal are the only side to boast a 100 per cent record in the Champions League this season
Mikel Arteta's Gunners have finished up on maximum points (24) and are the only side in the entire competition to have won all eight of their group matches.
The accolade also means Arsenal advance straight through to the last 16 - something they already wrapped up with one game to spare - avoiding the awkward play-off round.
Not only that but they will also receive home ties in the second legs of the last 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals, should they make it.
That could effectively prove more important than the prize money, which will bolster Arsenal's coffers ahead of the summer transfer window or in the final days of the winter window, should they wish to utilise it.
UEFA will distribute a record £2.88billion pot across the Champions League, Super Cup, Europa League and Conference League respectively this season.
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A monstrous £2.14billion is up for grabs in Europe's elite club competition and Arsenal have already banked more cash than any other side.
Each of the 36 participants receive a base fee £16.18million while clubs who also secure a top-eight finish and advance straight through to the last 16 also net a further £9.56million.
League phase wins are also worth £1.82million apiece and Arsenal, of course, recorded eight of them after beating Athletic Bilbao, Olympiacos, Atletico Madrid, Slavia Prague, Bayern Munich, Club Brugge, Inter Milan and FC Kairat. Those wins alone were worth a total of £14.56million.
Finally, clubs also receive £239,000 per position in the final league standings. Kairat, for instance, took home that figure as they finished in 36th place, bottom of the table.
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Arsenal were the only side to win all eight of their Champions League group matches
Arsenal were kings of the hill and they netted in the region of £8.6million for topping the pile, taking their prize money total to £48.9m, thus far.
If the Gunners were to advance to the quarter-finals, they would receive another cut of £10.85million while semi-finalists also bank a further £13million.
Finalists - this year's showpiece match will be played at the Puskas Arena in Budapest - will take home an extra £16.07million and lastly, the competition winners will then earn a further bonus of £5.64million.
So, in total, Arsenal could yet earn another £45.56million if they were to go the distance and win the Champions League for the first time in their entire history.
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