There have been significant changes in UEFA’s club competitions this season, and with a second consecutive second-place finish in the Premier League, Arsenal will once again compete at the highest level in Europe.
The Gunners marked their return to the Champions League last season after a six-year absence. Despite a tough group that was more akin to Europa League level, Mikel Arteta’s side finished top with relative ease before facing a challenging clash with Porto in the round of 16. Arsenal triumphed on penalties against the resilient Portuguese side but were knocked out in the quarterfinals by Bayern Munich, who won a tightly contested tie thanks to a Joshua Kimmich header in the return leg in Bavaria.
That experience should prove invaluable for this current Arsenal team, though the introduction of a new format will present fresh challenges. The traditional group stage has been replaced by a “league phase” as part of UEFA’s new “Swiss model,” which will feature more matches, increased stakes, and, ultimately, more revenue for the powers that be.
We now know Arsenal’s eight different opponents for this league phase, with UEFA confirming the schedule for all clubs. Arteta will need to manage his squad carefully over the coming months, as the league phase doesn’t conclude until late January, extending beyond the usual December finish.
