Arsenal are in the pot for the Champions League group stage draw for the 18th successive season.
The Gunners have made it into the second phase of the competition in every one of those campaigns, and their chances of doing so again may depend on the result of this afternoon’s festivities in Monaco.
Here, fanatix analyses what the best and worst possible outcomes for the Londoners would be…
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Pot One: Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Chelsea, Juventus, Paris St. Germain, Zenit, PSV Eindhoven
Arsenal have been among the top seeds in recent years and would be again this season had it not been for the changes to the seeding rules – they are ranked seventh in the UEFA club coefficients standings.
But being in pot two exposes the Gunners to one of the European giants. Holders Barcelona and Bayern Munich are the teams that stick out, but PSG would actually represent the worst draw for Arsenal.
Only one club from each country is allowed in each group, and there are tough opponents from Spain and Germany in the lower pots who would give the Arsene Wenger’s side a harder group on the whole.
PSV Eindhoven are the club on every unseeded team’s wish-list. They romped to the Dutch title last year but have since lost key players Memphis Depay and Georginio Wijnaldum and won’t be as strong.
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Pot Three: CSKA Moscow, Dynamo Kiev, Lyon, Olympiakos, Galatasaray, Roma, Shakhtar Donetsk, Sevilla
This is where drawing Barcelona might be a bit of a blessing in disguise, as it would rule out the possibility of the same team coming up against back-to-back Europa League winners Sevilla.
Unai Emery’s side managed to complement their continental success with a strong domestic campaign in which they finished fifth, and have strengthened their squad with a couple of big signings.
On balance, a group including Barcelona and Lyon, who Arsenal beat 6-0 in the Emirates Cup earlier this summer, would perhaps be more negotiable than one which comprised of PSG and Sevilla.
Pot three includes several unpleasant away trips to places such as Istanbul, Ukraine and Russia, so Greek champions Olympiakos undoubtedly present the kindest draw and the best opportunity for six points.
Pot Four: Astana, BATE Borisov, Borussia Monchengladbach, Wolfsburg, Dinamo Zagreb, Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Gent, Malmo
Do not be fooled by the lowly seeding of Wolfsburg. They may be poised to lose Kevin de Bruyne to Manchester City, but any team that can beat Bayern 4-1 is one which Arsenal will want to avoid.
For the same reason why Barcelona is perhaps a more appealing draw than at first thought, getting Munich from pot one would rule out dangerous German duo Wolfsburg and Gladbach from pot four.
Astana, who became the first ever team from Kazakhstan to reach the group stages courtesy of their 2-1 aggregate victory over Cypriot side APOEL last night, would represent the most appealing opponent.
Although they will be completely unknown to their opponents, and a trip to Kazakhstan is no footballer’s dream midweek venture, the minnows are likely to be out of their depth and could be easy pickings.
Conclusion:
Worst possible draw: PSG, Arsenal, Sevilla, Wolfsburg
Best possible draw: PSV, Arsenal, Olympiakos, Astana
