Eight Games, Eight Challenges: Assessing Arsenal’s Champions League Opponents

Arsenal now know the eight teams standing between them and progression from the Champions League league phase.

The draw has given the Gunners a fascinating mixture of European giants, domestic champions, reunions with former players and some potentially tricky away trips.

Arsenal’s Champions League opponents confirmed

Arsenal’s Champions League fixtures confirmed: Dates & Kick-off times

Here’s a closer look at who we face.

Napoli (A)

The Stadio Diego Armando Maradona is traditionally an intimidating place to play, but recently the debate in Naples has been whether the stadium is losing its fear factor.

Sometimes in sport you need luck that you can’t control, such as the schedule, and it might be a blessing to travel to southwestern Italy this week while Allegri is still trying to teach his new squad his ethos.

While respected for lifting the Scudetto six times, the manager is awaiting that big result to win over a demanding fanbase who are concerned his conservative tactics don’t suit their principles.

Napoli failed to defend their Serie A title last season, although there is an acceptance that’s more down to how good Inter Milan were and, with their injury list, they did well to end up runners-up.

Outside of turning a few loans into permanent deals, not a lot of new faces have joined, meaning they have a settled squad but one who will do well to close an 11-point difference with the Champions.

Gooners will recognise names from the Premier League, either those at the back end of their careers or those who flopped in England. A policy to recruit from the UK was designed to allow them to compete physically.

Scott McTominay is injured until October, another good reason to play this fixture on Wednesday.

Italian clubs are under massive pressure to do better this campaign in Europe.

The country didn’t have a representative in the last eight of the Champions League last season.

Lille (H)

Perhaps the most romantic part of the league phase for Gooners will be Giroud’s return to the Emirates.

The 39-year-old is one of three ex-Gunners we will be reunited with across our eight fixtures.

Like a lot of clubs in France not called PSG, the business model is to develop talent and sell if the price is right.

In the case of Bouaddi, Chevalier and Diakite, nearly 180 million has been recouped, but it means Lille start on paper weaker than last season, although they will no doubt unearth more young gems along the way.

With Davide Ancelotti managing for the first time in Europe, you could argue the club is in transition.

Yes, his father is Carlo, so big shoes to fill.

Bayern Munich (A)

Arsenal are unlucky to be drawn against both Spanish and German giants.

The Gunners beat the Bundesliga Champions last season in this fixture, but this time the game will be in Germany.

Their current unbeaten run in Europe during the pre-knockout stages at the Allianz Arena stretches to 38 games.

In Harry Kane, we will face one of the best strikers in the world.

The England captain scored 61 club goals last season.

Slavia Prague (A)

Another fellow domestic champion we have to face.

For travelling Gooners, there are some lovely cities to visit thanks to the draw, with a chance to go to the capital of the Czech Republic almost exactly a year from our last trip.

This fixture has historical significance for the Gunners.

Slavia Prague remains Arsenal’s joint-biggest margin of victory in Europe, although that was at the Emirates.

It was also where Max Dowman became the youngest player to feature in the Champions League.

The country is seen as having an upturn in development, with their UEFA ranking improving because of success in the Europa and Conference League.

Yet the Champions League remains a huge gap to bridge compared to domestically.

For instance, not including qualification rounds, Slavia Prague have gone 19 Champions League games without a win.

In last year’s league phase they finished 35th with three points.

Dortmund (H)

The selling point for this fixture will be Nwaneri’s unique return to the Emirates.

Our 19-year-old is on loan in Germany, but unlike the rules in England, UEFA has no restrictions about players on loan playing against their parent club.

That means in November we will be in the unique situation of an employee actively trying to harm his own employer.

Dortmund finished 16 points behind the Champions and are a different version of the one we saw last season.

After some high-profile exits, BVB have invested heavily in some of the most exciting talent in Europe, but it might take time to gel.

Konstantelias testing the ligament in his left knee on his Bundesliga debut is a huge blow.

Real Madrid (H)

So Vinicius Jr will be playing at the Emirates after all this season.

The Brazilian extending his contract, along with the signing of Diomande to add to Mbappe and Bellingham, means Real Madrid once again possess one of the best attacks in the world.

Jose Mourinho has been hired for a second time by Florentino Perez to manage the egos in the dressing room.

The Portuguese is looking to become the first manager to lift the Champions League with three different clubs.

As we learnt from his time in England, there is no Premier League club he enjoys beating more than the Gunners.

Real Betis (A)

In only their second-ever Champions League campaign, two decades after their first, Real Betis have mathematically been handed one of the toughest draws possible.

With 72-year-old Pellegrini in charge and 34-year-old Isco in midfield, there is enough experience.

The romantic appeal for Gooners will be a reunion with Hector Bellerin, although it won’t be at their usual ground.

While their stadium is being redeveloped, this fixture will be played at Seville’s Estadio de La Cartuja, meaning possible home advantage could be lost.

While the Olympic track has been removed, the venue was not designed for football, with spectators often complaining about how far some seats are from the pitch.

In comparison, the Benito Villamarin is tight and enclosed.

Sabah (H)

With all due respect to the Azerbaijan Champions, the Gunners’ final fixture in the league stage will either be an opportunity to get much-needed points or, hopefully, a chance for Mikel Arteta to rest some key players because qualification is ensured.

Only the second team from their nation to get beyond the qualification rounds, Sabah are an incredible story, having only been formed nine years ago. That makes them the youngest club ever to reach this level.

So, without exaggeration, for their players and fans, trips to Old Trafford and the Emirates will be the biggest days out of their careers so far.

Qarabag did make the playoffs last season after beating the likes of Benfica and Frankfurt, so never say never.

They were underdogs in all four rounds of qualifying, so are used to proving people wrong.

The step up, though, will be huge.

Dan Smith

Which of Arsenal’s eight Champions League fixtures are you most looking forward to, and which one worries you the most? Let us know in the comments below.
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