Champions League draw: Arsenal likely to face 'race of death'

The Champions League draw is heating up, as Arsenal could be on the "path of death", meeting Barca, PSG, Atletico and Napoli.

Risk of "death"

Arsenal entered the 2025/26 Champions League draw with both excitement and caution (11pm, August 28). Coach Mikel Arteta's team was placed in pot 2, thanks to maintaining a high position in the Premier League and a stable UEFA coefficient.

This is an important step forward compared to a few years ago, when the Gunners were struggling to return to Europe's top arena.

Arsenal could meet PSG again. Photo: EFE

However, that does not mean they face an easy journey – on the contrary, right from the League Phase, Arsenal are at risk of falling into fiery matches.

Under the new draw system (which has been in place since last season), each team will face eight different opponents in the League Phase, spread across four seeding pots. This opens up the prospect of Arsenal facing the “big boys” from the start.

In group 1, Arsenal could face two of the following teams: PSG – the reigning Champions League champions; Real Madrid – the historical rulers of the tournament, Barcelona – full of explosive power with Hansi Flick, and Inter Milan – last season's runners-up.

Any of these draws promises to be a high-profile clash, and a true measure of Arsenal's current strength.

Other “heavyweight” opponents that Arsenal could face in group 2 are Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Erik ten Hag’s Bayer Leverkusen, or Atalanta – the rebels of Italian football.

In Group 3, the challenge is no less difficult. Napoli, the 2024/25 Serie A champions with Antonio Conte, are a potentially risky opponent. In addition, PSV or Ajax often cause trouble for Premier League representatives.

That means Arsenal could be in for a busy schedule, forcing Arteta to rotate appropriately and maintain squad depth between the Premier League and the Champions League.

Grouping of Champions League group stage teams. Photo: UEFA

In the 2024/25 season, advancing deep in the Champions League will cost the Gunners a loss in the Premier League race, where they are "in the dust" of their rival Liverpool.

Squad depth

The positive point for Arsenal this season is that they have a team rich in quality. Summer recruits have helped strengthen the midfield and attack, bringing more balance than last season.

Viktor Gyokeres has been “opened” after a very poor debut at Old Trafford. Besides, new signing Martin Zubimendi is settling in. Riccardo Calafiori, a contract signed last year, showed his leadership role in his second season at the Emirates…

Besides Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard is at his peak, alongside the strong warrior Declan Rice, the versatile Mikel Merino. Eberechi Eze is ready to debut, while Mikel Arteta also wants Piero Hincapie.

Except for the goalkeeper position, where almost no one can compete with David Raya, Arteta is aiming for an Arsenal with 2 quality options in each position.

All for the goal of ending the thirst for the Premier League and conquering the Champions League/Cup C1 for the first time in history.

The less traditional PSG made history last season. On the way to the title, the Parisian team defeated Arsenal in the semi-finals. Therefore, the "Gunners" fans are waiting for a miracle.

Arsenal have a very good squad depth. Photo: AFC

To win, you have to win everything. Last season, Arsenal overcame psychological pressure to defeat Real Madrid, but the spirit still needs to be improved.

In other words, Arsenal need to prove that they are not just a “pretty team” in the Premier League, or at times, but have the mettle to step into Europe and maintain the necessary stability.

This is also a measure for Arteta himself: is he ready to take Arsenal to a new level, commensurate with the ambition and huge investment from the owners?

The draw in Monaco promises to be a dramatic affair. For Arsenal, it is both an opportunity to assert their position and a huge challenge.

Before entering the Champions League journey, this weekend is the first challenge to test Arsenal's mettle: the battle with Liverpool in round 3 of the Premier League (10:30 p.m. on August 31).

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/boc-tham-cup-c1-arsenal-nguy-co-gap-tu-than-2436996.html