Arsenal’s Champions League prospects are beginning to take shape as the first round of play-off matches concludes ahead of the last-16 draw in February.
Mikel Arteta’s squad is gradually getting a clearer picture of their potential opponents for the next stage of the competition. With the play-offs underway, Arsenal can start planning their approach for the knockout phase.
Following their early exit from the FA Cup last month, the Gunners have no matches this week, allowing them time to rest and recuperate while keeping an eye on developments in Europe. By securing third place in their group stage campaign, finishing behind Barcelona and Liverpool, Arsenal avoided the additional two-legged play-off round.
With the top eight teams advancing directly to the last-16, the remaining contenders are battling for their spot in the next stage. Some of Europe’s biggest clubs, including Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Milan, and Borussia Dortmund, are still fighting for qualification. Sporting CP, Paris Saint-Germain, and Atalanta also face crucial play-off fixtures.
For Arsenal, the draw has already limited their possible opponents to four teams. Though the matchups are not fully determined, the outcomes of the first legs offer an early glimpse into potential scenarios.
On Wednesday evening, while Liverpool and Everton clash in the last Merseyside derby at Goodison Park—a match that could influence the Premier League title race—Arsenal will be monitoring Feyenoord vs Milan. The winner of that encounter could be Arteta’s next challenge.
Half of the play-off results were decided on Tuesday, with Juventus edging out PSV Eindhoven 2-1. At the same time, Manchester City suffered a dramatic 3-2 home defeat, conceding twice in the final minutes despite initially leading. Juventus manager Thiago Motta secured a vital home victory, with Samuel Mbangula’s late goal sealing the win after Ivan Perisic had equalized in the second half. Weston McKennie had earlier given Juventus the lead.
The second legs are scheduled for next week, setting the stage for the official last-16, quarter-final, and semi-final draws on February 21. Arsenal is among the teams waiting to discover their next challenge, with close attention being paid to the clubs that may soon be making a trip to the Emirates Stadium.
