This perfect Arsenal Champions League draw would serve up some classics

The Champions League is (sort of) back!

Arsenal rank among some 36 hopefuls who will learn of their UCL fate this Thursday, with the League Phase draw for 2025/26 set to take place at 5pm in the Grimaldi Forum, Monaco.  

History tells a grim tale of the Gunners in Europe’s premier competition: they have participated in 23 campaigns and reached just one final back in 2006 – we all know what happened next. Those failings, painful in themselves, were only compounded by the brutal losses suffered at the hands of European superpowers.

But we have also played a role in many UCL classics and our spot in pot two could serve up a few more this year; one which might see us pitted against old foes, renew transfer hostilities or else just keep up tradition, meeting some familiar faces along the way.

A perfect Champions League draw could see Arsenal involved in some classic encounters

Though anything can happen, here is the perfect UCL draw for Arsenal that would make for a classic season in Europe.   

Pot 1: Bayern Munich & Inter Milan

This pairing has UCL pedigree coming out of its ears.

First to Germany, where Arsenal have a lot of wrongs to set right. The Bundesliga champions brought our European quest to an end in 2023/24 and, seven years prior, dealt out that awful 10-2 aggregate loss in the Round of 16 – a defeat so bad that we did not dare show our face in the competition again for six years.

But things are different now. Even just since April 2024, the Gunners have improved greatly and seem well placed to give Bayern Munich their toughest north London test yet. Throw in a reunification with Serge Gnabry and famous Hale End alumnus, Harry Kane, and you have all the ingredients needed for a UCL humdinger.

Pot one might also provide the European royalty that is Inter Milan. They will hope to recover from a Champions League humiliation of their own – the 5-0 collapse vs PSG in the 2024/25 final – and have a new manager in the form of ex-player Cristian Chivu, a man who will be keen to impress so early in his managerial career.

Memories of THAT win at the San Siro in 2003 and a Thierry Henry MOTM performance will always make fans smile, but it is time to experience a few new joys and Arsenal may relish the opportunity to avenge the 1-0 defeat they suffered in Italy back in November.       

Tables need to turn here.

Pot 2: Bayer Leverkusen & Villarreal

Do not worry, there is enough bad blood to go around the entire Bundesliga.

Next to feel that wrath are Bayer Leverkusen, now managed by former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag. He faces the unenviable task of trying to replace 2023/24 double-winning coach Xabi Alonso and could meet Mikel Arteta on his travels – a man against whom he found little joy during his time in England.

Transfer deals would bring extra spice to the occasion, with Piero Hincapié tipped to leave Germany for the Gunners this week. That makes it 1-1 on the deal-sheet, as some Arsenal fans are still upset by Granit Xhaka joining Leverkusen from us three years ago (even if the Swiss international has since moved on again).

And I did not even mention the name ‘Rasmus Hojlund’, or indeed that of Alejandro Garnacho and THAT offside…   

However, perhaps my anger should veer towards another pot two option: La Liga side Villarreal. In the past, we have not met too often but it is usually a grand occasion when we do – the UCL semi-final in 2006 will always be fondly remembered at N5.

Yet a 2-1 Europea League semi-final loss left a bitter taste in 2021, one made worse by their eventual success in the final (a fourth UEL final triumph for Unai Emery in five attempts…), though it did come at the expense of ten Hag’s former team.

The Yellow Submarine sank Arsenal the last time we met; this new-look Gunners side must torpedo their European hopes if given the chance in 2025/26.

Pot 3: Sporting CP & PSV

It is the Viktor Gyokeres derby, need I say more?

The sparks which flew during those transfer negotiations could light up any match and most of them came directly from Gyokeres himself; the 27-year-old refused to train for Sporting CP in order to seal a summer exit.

Arsenal fans might still be sore from the 2022/23 UEL elimination at the hands of Sporting CP – then managed by Ruben Amorim (another United link) – and think that a Gyokeres dagger would cap off the punishment we dished out to them in the League Phase last year.

In a world full of enmity, there should also be time to catch up with some old friends and that is why Arsenal might seek a clash with PSV in Pot 3 too. The two teams share an annual tradition of playing each other having done so in each of the past three seasons, their most recent clash ending in a 9-3 aggregate win for the Gunners back in March.

In fact, the only thing sweeter than a big win is doing it to an old rival and Arsenal can achieve that as well; another PSV match-up would see us come face-to-face (once again) with former Sp*rs man Ivan Perisic.     

Arteta had the last laugh in past ties but, for a team buying Tottenham rejects, not even nine goals is enough punishment.

Pot 4: Pafos FC & Galatasaray

Keeping on the ‘friendly’ theme here as Arsenal might wish to be paired up with UCL debutants Pafos FC and former Gunner, David Luiz.

The eccentric Brazilian, now 38 years old, joined the Cypriot champions earlier this month on a two-year deal and will hope for a chance to say goodbye properly to his former club. Injuries robbed him of that opportunity in 2021, when a hamstring issue forced him off early at St. James’s Park in what turned out to be his final Arsenal game.

Luiz never reached ‘legend’ status here, but his role in the 2020 FA Cup triumph has left him forever endeared to people in north London and Arteta would no doubt love to see their paths cross again in the League Phase – just do not give them the three points.

And the familiar faces do not end there, as the final piece of ‘classic’ material comes in the guise of Turkish club Galatasaray. It has been a long time since Arsenal last met the Turkish champions (2014 group stage), though trips to Turkey were once a common sight – Besiktas (2014), Galatasaray (2014) and Fenerbahce (2013) – and a return is now in order.

This match-up would offer a throwback to yesteryear as many familiar names ply their trade at RAMS Park: Mauro Icardi, Leroy Sané and Davinson Sánchez among them. It could even be another Arsenal reunion as Lucas Torreira operates in their midfield, registering six goals and eights assists across all competitions last season – maybe Unai Emery was right about his CAM potential…

Games against Turkish sides are typically hard-fought and, considering the mix of ‘big names’, former players and a cauldron-like atmosphere, it is possible that a visit to Galatasaray could deliver on that ‘classic’ potential.

They even happen to have a player called ‘Carlos Cuesta’ on their books; now I really am ready to do battle.

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