Arsenal could be impacted by a UEFA rule in this season's Champions League, which restricts them from being drawn away to Inter Milan in the league phase.
Mikel Arteta's side are among the favourites for the competition after reaching the final in May, where Kai Havertz gave them the lead before Paris Saint-Germain won on penalties in Budapest.
Draw format and Pot 1 restrictions
The league phase draw takes place on Thursday evening. As in the past two seasons, the 36 clubs will each play two teams from each of the four pots. Arsenal, who won all eight of their league-phase matches last term, are in Pot 1 alongside Manchester City and Liverpool, though they cannot face those clubs as teams from the same country are not drawn together at this stage.
There is a further limitation regarding Arsenal's Pot 1 opponents. Inter Milan are one of the nine top seeds, but the Gunners cannot be drawn against them away from home in the league phase.
Why Arsenal cannot face Inter away
This is due to a lesser-known rule designed to prevent certain fixtures from becoming too repetitive. The Champions League regulations state: "The UEFA Club Competitions Committee has determined an additional condition that may be applicable to the UEFA Champions League draw for the 2026/27 season, deciding that any individual fixture between the same two teams may not be repeated in the same competition with the same home team for three consecutive seasons."
Arsenal have played Inter at the San Siro in each of the past two seasons, losing 1-0 in November 2024 before winning 3-1 in Milan in January this year. That means Arsenal cannot travel to the San Siro for a third consecutive season, so if the Gunners are to face Inter, it must be at home.
Arsenal's Pot 1 away options
Arsenal's options for their away match against a Pot 1 club are therefore PSG, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona or Atletico Madrid.
