Before we dive into the knockout rounds, we’ve got to rewind the Arsenal Champions League. Campaign kicked off in the new-look league phase—a 36-team, eight-game marathon that replaced the old group stage format.
But Arsenal held firm, nicking a 2-1 win thanks to a Bukayo Saka screamer. Then came PSG at home Kylian Mbappé tearing down the wing. Only for William Saliba to pocket him like loose change. A 1-0 victory, and the Emirates erupted. There were hiccups, mind you—Inter Milan handed us our only loss, a 1-0 defeat. But by the time we beat Girona 2-1 in Spain on the final matchday. Arsenal had locked in third place overall with 18 points. Top eight, seeded for the round of 16, no playoff nonsense required. The Arsenal Champions League machine was purring.
Round of 16: Arsenal Champions League
Fast forward to the knockout draw on February 21, 2025, and Arsenal landed PSV Eindhoven in the last 16. Not the easiest draw, but not the hardest either. PSV had clawed their way through the playoffs, beating Juventus 4-3 on aggregate with some gutsy, attacking football. The first leg in Eindhoven on March 4 was a wake-up call. Arsenal got hammered 7-1, and I nearly choked on my pint. Kai Havertz scored early, but PSV ran riot, with Johan Bakayoko and Luuk de Jong tearing our defense apart. It was a night to forget, but it lit a fire under Arteta’s lads.
The second leg at the Emirates on March 12 was do-or-die. I was there, in the stands, voice hoarse from shouting. Arsenal came out like a team possessed—Saka danced past defenders, Martin Ødegaard pulled the strings. And Gabriel Jesus bagged a brace. We won 6-0, overturning the deficit with a 7-2 aggregate triumph.
Quarter-Finals: Arsenal Champions League
Next up, the quarter-finals, and the bracket threw us a Madrid derby winner—either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid.
If it’s Real Madrid, we’re talking Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Jr., and a midfield orchestrated by Jude Bellingham. They’ve won this thing 15 times, and their aura is suffocating. I’ve watched them dismantle teams with surgical precision, and the thought of Saliba and Gabriel facing that attack. But Arsenal’s got weapons too—Saka’s pace, Ødegaard’s vision, and a backline that’s been rock-solid all season. The Arsenal Champions League hopes hinge on outsmarting Carlo Ancelotti’s galacticos. And I reckon we could nick it at the Emirates if we keep it tight away.
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Semi-Finals: PSG, Liverpool, Club Brugge, or Aston Villa – The Wild Card
Assuming we get past Madrid (fingers crossed), the semi-finals loom in late April and early May. And the possibilities are mouthwatering. The bracket pits us against the winner of PSG vs. Liverpool and Club Brugge vs. Aston Villa. As of now, Liverpool lead PSG 2-1 from the first leg, with Mo Salah and Darwin Nunez on the scoresheet. While Aston Villa thumped Club Brugge 3-1 in Belgium. The second legs are days away, but let’s game this out.
The Final: A Date with Destiny at the Allianz Arena
If Arsenal makes it through that gauntlet and it’s a big if. The final awaits on May 31, 2025, at Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena. The other side of the bracket is stacked: Barcelona, Bayern, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Lille, Benfica, Bayer Leverkusen, or Feyenoord. Barcelona look like the team to beat—top of La Liga, Spanish Super Cup in the bag, and Hansi Flick’s got them humming. Bayern, hosting the final, have Harry Kane and a point to prove after last year’s slip. Inter’s defense is stingy—only one goal conceded in the league phase—and Dortmund’s got that knack for chaos.
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