Arsenal face a potentially tricky Champions League league phase draw as the Gunners seek to go one better than last season's final heartbreak against PSG.
Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhaes
Arsenal being drawn against PSG would be a rematch of the Champions League final (Image: Marvin Ibo Guengoer - GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)
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Arsenal are looking to go one further and clinch that elusive Champions League trophy, having fallen in the final hurdle just a few months ago against Paris Saint-Germain. Defeat in a penalty shoot-out saw a near-perfect campaign end in heartbreak, despite the Gunners' Premier League title, and they are out for revenge.
The Gunners coasted through last year's league phase and will hope to do so again, but they may need to avoid a few tricky tests in Thursday's draw. Held in UEFA's Switzerland headquarters, Arsenal will soon discover their upcoming opponents. Here, Express Sport has taken a look at what the worst-case scenario would look like from that draw...
Since Arsenal cannot meet another English side, the Gunners have just six potential pot one adversaries, with Manchester City and Liverpool joining them as top seeds. Yet there are still no straightforward options available, with Inter Milan and the La Liga trio of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid amongst the possible fixtures.
However, PSG remain the side to beat in European football, having successfully defended the Champions League trophy. The French giants have remarkably strengthened their already fearsome attacking arsenal, snapping up Monaco's Maghnes Akliouche, Ajax's Mika Godts and Ferran Torres from Barcelona this summer.
While a draw against PSG would hand Arteta's side an early rematch of the Champions League final, Enrique's outfit remain the most formidable opposition in pot one. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich were unfortunate not to meet Arsenal in Budapest after pushing PSG to the very brink in their semi-final encounters and would represent another stern test.
The German champions, spearheaded by England skipper Harry Kane, knocked out Real Madrid in the quarter-finals last season, while their 5-4 first-leg defeat to PSG will be etched in the memory for years to come. Historically, Bayern have won eight and drawn three of their 15 clashes with Arsenal, though Arteta's men will take heart from their 3-1 triumph last November.
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Borussia Dortmund boast considerable Champions League heritage, having last reached the final in 2024. The German outfit endured a disappointing campaign last season, falling at the knockout play-off stage to Atalanta.
Nevertheless, a potential away fixture at the Westfalenstadion could prove a daunting prospect for Arsenal. The Gunners hold a marginal historical edge over Dortmund, having won four and drawn one of their eight previous encounters.
Similarly, Porto could represent a formidable challenge for the Gunners. Francesco Farioli's side recently romped to the league title, suffering just two defeats in 34 matches.
In European competition, the Portuguese heavyweights were narrowly edged out by Nottingham Forest in the Europa League quarter-finals last season. Nevertheless, the club are well-versed in high-stakes Champions League occasions, having last faced Arsenal in the round of 16 during the 2023/24 campaign.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta could face a tough Champions League draw (Image: Getty Images)
Napoli finished runners-up in Serie A last season, falling short of defending their league crown. Massimiliano Allegri has taken over from Antonio Conte in the dugout, ensuring a seasoned tactician remains at the helm.
Former Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay has become a cult figure in Naples, while Kevin De Bruyne also continues to star for the Italian club. The Gunners have met Napoli on just two occasions throughout their history, with both sides registering 2-0 victories during the 2013/14 group stage.
Bodo/Glimt find themselves in pot three after the Norwegian outfit dispatched Dutch side NEC Nijmegen in their play-off tie. Kjetil Knutsen's men recently defied expectations by advancing to the last 16 of the Champions League, beating Manchester City, Atletico and Inter along the way.
Arsenal, who faced Bodo/Glimt during the 2022/23 Europa League, will be keen to avoid joining the club's ever-growing list of high-profile victims.
Como are poised to make history as the Italian outfit embark on their maiden European campaign, having secured fourth place in Serie A. Former Arsenal legend Cesc Fabregas, who made 303 appearances for the Gunners, has been at the helm at Como for nearly three years and previously guided the club to promotion from Serie B in 2024.
It has been a meteoric rise for Como, whose summer recruits include Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah and seasoned striker Alvaro Morata. Lens are also stepping into the Champions League following a remarkable season.
The club claimed second place in Ligue 1 and lifted the Coupe de France for the first time. How Lens will cope with the departure of key players and manager Pierre Sage this summer remains to be seen, though the side could still spring a few surprises during the league phase.