Arsenal could face a rematch of the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain and an intimidating away trip to Borussia Dortmund in Thursday's league phase draw, with the Gunners seeking to go one better than last season's penalty shoot-out heartbreak.
Defeat to PSG in the final saw a near-perfect campaign end in disappointment, despite Arsenal winning the Premier League title. The Gunners coasted through last year's league phase and will hope to do so again, but they may need to avoid a few tricky tests when the draw is held at UEFA's Switzerland headquarters.
Pot one: PSG and Bayern Munich stand out
Since Arsenal cannot meet another English side, the Gunners have just six potential pot one adversaries, with Manchester City and Liverpool joining them as top seeds. Inter Milan and the La Liga trio of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are also possible fixtures.
PSG remain the side to beat in European football, having successfully defended the Champions League trophy. The French giants have strengthened their attacking options this summer, signing Monaco's Maghnes Akliouche, Ajax's Mika Godts and Ferran Torres from Barcelona.
A draw against PSG would hand Mikel Arteta's side an early rematch of the final, with the Parisian outfit the most formidable opposition in pot one. Bayern Munich, who pushed PSG to the brink in their semi-final encounters, would represent another stern test.
The German champions, spearheaded by England captain Harry Kane, knocked out Real Madrid in the quarter-finals last season, while their 5-4 first-leg defeat to PSG will be remembered for years. Historically, Bayern have won eight and drawn three of their 15 clashes with Arsenal, though Arteta's men will take heart from their 3-1 triumph last November.
Pot two: Dortmund and Porto pose threats
Borussia Dortmund boast considerable Champions League heritage, having last reached the final in 2024. The German outfit endured a disappointing campaign last season, falling at the knockout play-off stage to Atalanta. A potential away fixture at the Westfalenstadion could prove daunting, though Arsenal hold a marginal historical edge, having won four and drawn one of their eight previous encounters.
Porto could also represent a formidable challenge. Francesco Farioli's side recently romped to the league title, suffering just two defeats in 34 matches. In European competition, the Portuguese heavyweights were narrowly edged out by Nottingham Forest in the Europa League quarter-finals last season, but are well-versed in high-stakes Champions League occasions, having last faced Arsenal in the round of 16 during the 2023/24 campaign.
Pot three: Napoli and Bodo/Glimt in the mix
Napoli finished runners-up in Serie A last season, falling short of defending their league crown. Massimiliano Allegri has taken over from Antonio Conte in the dugout, ensuring a seasoned tactician remains at the helm. Former Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay has become a cult figure in Naples, while Kevin De Bruyne continues to star for the Italian club. Arsenal have met Napoli on just two occasions, with both sides registering 2-0 victories during the 2013/14 group stage.
Bodo/Glimt find themselves in pot three after the Norwegian outfit dispatched Dutch side NEC Nijmegen in their play-off tie. Kjetil Knutsen's men recently defied expectations by advancing to the last 16 of the Champions League, beating Manchester City, Atletico and Inter along the way. Arsenal, who faced Bodo/Glimt during the 2022/23 Europa League, will be keen to avoid joining the club's ever-growing list of high-profile victims.
Pot four: Como and Lens could spring surprises
Como are poised to make history as the Italian outfit embark on their maiden European campaign, having secured fourth place in Serie A. Former Arsenal legend Cesc Fabregas, who made 303 appearances for the Gunners, has been at the helm at Como for nearly three years and previously guided the club to promotion from Serie B in 2024. Their summer recruits include Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah and seasoned striker Alvaro Morata.
Lens are also stepping into the Champions League following a remarkable season, claiming second place in Ligue 1 and lifting the Coupe de France for the first time. How Lens will cope with the departure of key players and manager Pierre Sage this summer remains to be seen, though the side could still spring a few surprises during the league phase.
