Arsenal’s Champions League dates are now set, revealing demanding runs around Chelsea, Manchester City, Tottenham and domestic cup commitments.
UEFA have confirmed the dates and kick-off times for the 2026/27 Champions League, so Arsenal can now map out exactly when their eight league-phase games will fall.
The draw last Thursday set out Arsenal’s European opponents, but it’s only now, with the dates slotted into the domestic calendar, that the real pinch points of the season come into focus.
Mikel Arteta’s side begin away at Napoli on Wednesday, September 9, before Lille provide the first Champions League opposition at the Emirates on October 13.
After that, it’s Bayern Munich and Slavia Prague away, then Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid both make the trip to North London before the end of the year.
January brings a trip to Real Betis, before Arsenal wrap up the league phase at home against Sabah.
Even on their own, those eight European fixtures would be a tough ask. But when you layer in Arsenal’s Premier League title defence and their cup runs, the schedule starts to look especially punishing in places.
Arsenal Face Five Games in 14 Days in September
The intensity kicks in from the very start.
Arsenal host Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday, September 6 before travelling to Italy to face Napoli just three days later. They then head to Sunderland on September 12.
From there, there’s no let up until September's international break
Arsenal’s Carabao Cup third-round tie away at Ipswich Town has been scheduled for Tuesday, September 15, before another away Premier League game against Brighton four days later.
It begins to stack a grueling schedule, both in regards to fixtures and travel ahead of the international break, with travel into Europe and across from the North to the South of England all before the international break.
September 6: Chelsea (H)
September 9: Napoli (A)
September 12: Sunderland (A)
September 15: Ipswich Town (A) - Carabao Cup
September 19: Brighton (A)
Lille and Bayern Come During Another Busy Spell
There’s a long international break before the Gunners' second Champions League outing, but once club football is back, October gets busy in a hurry.
Leeds United visit the Emirates on October 10 before Lille arrive three days later.
Arsenal then travel to Nottingham Forest on October 18, head to Bayern Munich on October 21 and return home to face Everton on October 24.
That’s another five-game stretch packed into just over a fortnight, with barely any breathing space between Forest and Bayern.
And if Arsenal keep progressing in the Carabao Cup, the autumn fixture list only gets heavier.
Dortmund, Man City, Tottenham and Real Madrid in 19 Days
The toughest run of all, though, comes around the final two Champions League games of the year.
Arsenal travel to Newcastle United on November 21 before Borussia Dortmund visit the Emirates three days later.
Manchester City then arrive in North London on November 28.
For the Gunners, it becomes three huge games in eight days and will be a real test of Arsenal's squad depth. Arsenal cross London to face Brentford on December 2, then it’s straight into a north London derby at Tottenham on December 5.
Just four days later, Real Madrid arrive at the Emirates.
Their run from Dortmund to Real Madrid therefore reads:
November 24: Borussia Dortmund (H)
November 28: Manchester City (H)
December 2: Brentford (A)
December 5: Tottenham (A)
December 9: Real Madrid (H)
As it stands, that means the Gunners face Dortmund, City, Tottenham and Real Madrid all squeezed into a frantic 16-day spell.
Factor in Newcastle right before and Bournemouth right after, and Arsenal are staring at seven games in just 22 days.
While Premier League fixtures after September could still shift for TV or European reasons, the opponents around those Champions League nights are already locked in.
January Could Be Just as Important
There’s another tough patch waiting when the Champions League picks up again after Christmas.
The Gunners' FA Cup campaign will begin on the weekend of January 9 before they return to Premier League action away at Hull City on January 16.
Four days later, they travel to Spain to face Real Betis, who the Gunners already played this summer as part of their pre-season preparations.
Newcastle then visit the Emirates on January 23, Sabah arrive four days later for Arsenal’s final league-phase game, and Manchester City await at the Etihad on January 30.
That means five games already pencilled in between January 16 and January 30, with two Champions League ties sandwiched between league clashes with Hull, Newcastle and City.
Arsenal's Champions League League Phase Schedule
Wednesday, September 9
Napoli (A) - 8pm
Tuesday, October 13
Lille (H) - 8pm
Wednesday, October 21
Bayern Munich (A) - 8pm
Wednesday, November 4
Slavia Prague (A) - 8pm
Tuesday, November 24
Borussia Dortmund (H) - 8pm
Wednesday, December 9
Real Madrid (H) - 8pm
Wednesday, January 20
Real Betis (A) - 8pm
Wednesday, January 27
Sabah (H) - 8pm
All Champions League kick-off times UK.
The European draw alone looked tough for Arsenal, but now the confirmed dates show just how those games will collide with their Premier League title defence.
September and October are busy enough, but it’s that stretch with Dortmund, Manchester City, Tottenham and Real Madrid that really jumps off the page.
Some fixtures will be subject to change as TV schedules become further confirmed,
If Arsenal go deep in the domestic cups, the fixture list will only get heavier. Arteta will need every ounce of squad depth they have been developing, not just for those eight Champions League nights, but for the long haul.