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 The traditional group stage has been replaced by a “league phase” as part of UEFA’s new “Swiss model,” which will feature more matches, increased stakes, and, ultimately, more revenue for the powers that be.
Arsenal were drawn against two teams from each of the four pots, facing one at home and one away.
Their campaign began on 19 September with an away trip to Europa League winners Atalanta, where a stellar performance by goalkeeper David Raya earned them a hard-fought 0-0 draw. Their first win of the league phase came soon after, as they defeated Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 at the Emirates on Matchday 2.
While the 1-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk wasn’t particularly memorable, it secured Arsenal’s place in the top eight heading into a challenging run of matches, starting with a trip to the historic San Siro to face defending Serie A champions Inter Milan on 6 November.
Arsenal have enjoyed memorable nights in Milan, and this match provides a chance for the current squad to make their mark in European history.
Although Arsenal’s toughest challenges on paper were tackled by the midpoint of the group, a trip to Sporting CP on 26 November and a home game against Monaco on 11 December still present tough tests.
Considering the difficulty of their opening six fixtures, Arsenal may still need to secure points in the final two matchdays. Fortunately, their concluding matches are against Dinamo Zagreb at home and Pot 4’s Girona away, in the compact Estadi Montilivi, which should offer a strong finish to the league phase.