Despite having their title dream shattered, Arsenal has had a successful Premier League campaign and is set to return to Champions League football next season.
Having made their last appearance in Europe's top competition in 2016/17, the north Londoners need to brace themselves for a challenging Champions League group. The Gunners' journey may begin with a daunting group-stage draw against tough opponents.
According to UEFA.com, the teams participating in the Champions League will be categorized into four seeding pots. Pot 1 will include the current title holders, the winners of the UEFA Europa League, and the champions of the top six ranked nations who didn't qualify through continental titles for the 2022/23 season. Pots 2 to 4, on the other hand, will be determined based on the club coefficient rankings.
Therefore, if Arsenal fails to secure the Premier League title this season, they will not be placed in Pot 1. Additionally, there is a possibility that they might not be placed in Pot 2 either.
In Arsenal's case, it presents the possibility of being drawn into a group including Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. Bayern Munich appears to be on track to win the Bundesliga title again, although Borussia Dortmund is in close pursuit. Meanwhile, Real Madrid is not expected to clinch the La Liga championship this season. If Real Madrid fails to secure another Champions League title, they will be placed in Pot 2.
The teams in Pot 4 are more challenging to predict, but potential contenders could include Real Sociedad, Union Berlin, Galatasaray, BSC Young Boys, and FC Copenhagen.
Arsenal's potential Champions League group could be:
- Bayern Munich (Pot 1)
- Real Madrid (Pot 2)
- Arsenal (Pot 3)
- Galatasaray (Pot 4)
Currently, Mikel Arteta's team is one point behind Manchester City in the league standings, with only three matches remaining. Although City is the favorite to clinch their third consecutive title and have a game in hand, Arsenal's strong performance has earned them a spot among the continent's best clubs.
Source - GiveMeSport