Arsenal’s opponents for the 2026–27 UEFA Champions League league phase have now been confirmed following Thursday’s draw in Monaco. The Premier League champions will face Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Real Betis, Lille, Napoli, Sabah and Slavia Prague.
The schedule includes four home fixtures against Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Lille and Sabah. Arsenal will travel to face Bayern Munich, Real Betis, Napoli and Slavia Prague. The exact dates and kick-off times are expected to be confirmed shortly.
Arsenal entered the draw as a Pot 1 club after winning the 2025–26 Premier League title under Mikel Arteta. However, their seeding did not prevent them from being drawn against two other leading European teams. Real Madrid and Bayern Munich will provide the strongest tests during the league phase.
The draw followed UEFA’s expanded format, in which 36 clubs compete in one league table rather than separate groups. Every team receives eight opponents—two from each of the four pots—with four matches at home and four away. Clubs cannot face teams from their own national association or more than two sides from the same country.
A new UEFA restriction also affected Arsenal’s possible fixtures. The Gunners could not be drawn away to Inter Milan because they had already travelled to the San Siro to face the Italian club in each of the previous two seasons. UEFA’s rule prevents the same fixture, with the same team at home, from occurring for three consecutive campaigns.
The final draw gives Arsenal a demanding but attractive route through the opening phase. Real Madrid will visit the Emirates, while Bayern Munich provide a major away challenge. Matches against Dortmund, Napoli and Betis will also test Arsenal’s ability to compete with established European contenders.
Arteta’s side will enter the competition with confidence after their domestic success last season. Arsenal’s Premier League title was secured after a dramatic campaign in which Manchester City dropped crucial points, including a late 3–3 draw with Everton. Arsenal capitalized on the opportunity and finished as champions.
Declan Rice was one of the central figures in that title-winning campaign and will again be important in Europe. His ability to control midfield, contribute defensively and drive Arsenal forward will be crucial against opponents with significant technical quality.
Arsenal also reached the Champions League final last season, gaining valuable experience on the biggest European stage. The club will now hope that experience, combined with the squad’s domestic progress, can help them go one step further.
The first league-phase fixtures will be played in September, with the final matchday scheduled for January 2027. Arsenal must finish in the top 24 to continue in the competition, while a top-eight position would guarantee direct qualification for the round of 16. With Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and several other difficult opponents awaiting them, the Gunners will have little margin for error.
