The Champions League knockout round pathway has become clearer for Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham with favourable draws avoided
11:36, 30 Jan 2026Updated 11:57, 30 Jan 2026
Mikel Arteta has discovered which teams Arsenal are likely to face in the Champions League last-16
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Mikel Arteta has discovered which teams Arsenal are likely to face in the Champions League last-16(Image: (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images))
Arsenal have taken one step closer to discovering their Champions League last-16 opponents following Friday's play-off draw. The Gunners finishing first has resulted in them being set to face one of Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Atalanta or Olympiacos.
Those four teams have now learnt their play-off fate with Olympiacos taking on Leverkusen and Dortmund facing Atalanta .
Avoiding one of the latter would have been better with the two German sides meeting the dream scenario but Arsenal will fancy their chances against whichever team they are drawn to face with the other play-off winner facing Bayern Munich.
The draw to determine which play-off the top eight teams have been paired with is set to take place in February. Despite that, the route beyond the last-16 has become somewhat clearer with a potential quarter-final clash for Arsenal likely to be against one of Real Madrid, Manchester City or Bayern.
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Chelsea, meanwhile, have seen their chances of a knockout clash against Newcastle United increase with Eddie Howe's side drawn to face Qarabag.
They have been paired with Barcelona with the other play-off winner they could face either Monaco or holders Paris Saint-Germain.
Liam Rosenior's side may actually prefer facing the French side having not beaten Newcastle this year after also being knocked out of the Carabao Cup by them while they defeated PSG in the Club World Cup final over the summer.
With Juventus and Atletico Madrid not meeting in the play-off, Tottenham are likely to face one of those two European heavyweights assuming they beat Galatasaray and Club Brugge, respectively.
In addition to those play-off ties, the bracket is completed by Benfica facing Real Madrid again with the former's place in the next stage only secured in the final seconds over their league stage clash against Los Blancos while Bodo/Glimt face Inter Milan.
The two winners from those ties will take on either Manchester City or Sporting CP in the last-16. All of those matches are set to be played from February 16-18 with the second legs in the following midweek.
Arsenal players celebrate a goal in the Champions League
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Arsenal could still have a busy February despite avoiding the Champions League play-off round(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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Even though the Gunners have advanced straight to the last-16, Arteta's side are likely to be in action over this period with their game week 31 clash away at Wolves provisionally brought forward to the midweek between their FA Cup fourth round clash and the North London Derby.
That is because they are likely to be at Wembley over the weekend they would have been at Molineux due to participation in the Carabao Cup final.
The second leg at Emirates Stadium against Chelsea is still to be played but Arsenal are clear favourites as they hold a 3-2 lead over their local rivals and thus the Premier League have opted to bring the game forward if required due to their busy schedule following the potential cup final.