Arsenal learn 25/26 Champions League opponents | OneFootball

Arsenal will face Bayern Munich, Inter Milan and Atlético Madrid in the Champions League league phase after the draw was made at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.

They will also face Club Brugge, Olympiacos, Slavia Prague, Kairat Almaty and Athletic Club, with fixture dates to be confirmed by 30 August.

Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Arsenal Champions League draw

The meeting with Bayern renews one of Arsenal’s most frequent – and painful – European rivalries. The two clubs have met 14 times in the competition, with Arsenal winning three and losing eight. At home, Arsenal’s record reads two wins, two draws and three defeats.

Similarly, Arsenal have played Olympiacos 12 times, with a 50-50 win-lose split in results.

Inter are also familiar opponents, having beaten Arsenal 1-0 in Milan last season before going on to lose the final. The Gunners have faced the Italians three times in total, winning once.

Kairat Almaty are making their first appearance in the competition, having knocked Celtic out on penalties in qualifying.

Club Brugge, meanwhile, destroyed Rangers 9-1 on aggregate. Like Kairat Almaty, this will be the first time Arsenal face the Belgians and Athletic Club in European competition.

Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Arsenal arrive in this campaign on the back of their best run in nearly two decades. Mikel Arteta’s side reached the semi-finals last season, eliminating Real Madrid with a 5-1 aggregate win in the quarter-finals before losing to the eventual winners as injuries took their toll on their squad.

They had finished third in the new league phase format with 19 points from eight games, losing only once.

UEFA have confirmed changes to knockout draw following criticism of last season’s system, which saw Arsenal finish well above both Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain but still drawn away from home in their second legs. From this season, league position will determine who plays the second leg at home.

No team has played more Champions League matches without lifting the trophy than Arsenal, with 211 games to date.