Arsenal have learned their Champions League fate, and fans may have something for a soft spot for Pafos in this season’s competition.
The Champions League draw took place on Thursday, with teams finding out their opponents in the league phase.
Arsenal have been handed a favourable draw, with games against Club Brugge, Olympiacos, Slavia Prague, Kairat and Athletic Club certainly appearing winnable.
Bayern Munich, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid will be tough opponents, but Mikel Arteta will be confident of progression.
Chelsea’s draw will see them take on the likes of Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Napoli, Benfica and Ajax, but also first-time qualifiers Pafos.
Vlad Dragomir in action for Arsenal U23 v Porto U23
Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Ex-Arsenal youngster Vlad Dragomir set to face Chelsea
Pafos saw off Dynamo Kyiv and Crvena zvezda in back-to-back rounds to reach the Champions League for the first time.
The Cypriot champions will be relative minnows in the Champions League, but they have some familiar names.
Manager Juan Carlos Carcedo was part of Unai Emery’s coaching staff at Arsenal, while former Watford winger Ken Sema, ex-Birmingham City midfielder Ivan Sunjic and one-time Southampton attacker Mislav Orsic are all in the squad.
There is another Arsenal connection in the squad, as former Gunners wonderkid Vlad Dragomir currently plays for Pafos.
The Romanian playmaker joined Arsenal from Poli Timisoara in 2015, joining the Gunners aged just 15.
The Guardian named Dragomir as one of their top wonderkids in 2016, while Arsene Wenger told Arsenal’s official website that Dragomir was similar to Jack Wilshere in terms of playing style.
Dragomir was never able to break through, though, failing to make a single first-team appearance for Arsenal.
The Gunners allowed Dragomir’s contract to expire in 2018, paving the way for a move to Italy with Perugia and then Virtus Entella.
2021 brought a move to Pafos, and this is where Dragomir really started to kick on with his career.
Dragomir has now played 156 games for Pafos, racking up 17 goals and 10 assists during his time in Cyprus.
The 26-year-old even earned his first Romania cap earlier this year, finally delivering on some of the potential Arsenal saw in him a decade ago.
Dragomir will now have the chance to play Champions League football against Chelsea, and another former Arsenal man is primed to join him.
𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝘁! ✨
Pafos FC will face:
🏟️ Bayern Munich 🇩🇪
✈️ Chelsea FC 🏴
✈️ Juventus 🇮🇹
🏟️ Villarreal 🇪🇸
✈️ Olympiacos 🇬🇷
🏟️ Slavia Prague 🇨🇿
🏟️ Monaco 🇲🇨
✈️ Kairat Almaty 🇰🇿
📅 Fixture dates to be announced soon.
Pame Pafos! 🩵 pic.twitter.com/MQUzxa9Lfr
— Pafos FC (@pafosfcofficial) August 28, 2025
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David Luiz set for London return
Yes, David Luiz is still playing – and he could return to London to face Chelsea, having joined Pafos this summer.
The 38-year-old centre-back is still going strong and penned a two-year deal with Pafos earlier in August.
Luiz most recently played for Fortaleza in his native Brazil, but he is now back in Europe for another crack at Champions League football.
Luiz is still loved at Arsenal despite only spending two years with the club, and he is likely to receive a strong reception upon his return to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea.
Pafos have Carcedo, Luiz and Dragomir on board, and Arsenal fans would no doubt love to see them produce a major upset against Chelsea this season.