Champions League Draw - Review of Arsenal's league phase opponents

Arsenal will face Bayern Munich, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid in this season’s Champions League — a tough set of opponents, though overall a favorable draw overall for Mikel Arteta’s side.

The Gunners are once again chasing their first men’s Champions League crown after falling just short last season. Arteta guided his team to the semi-finals for only the second time in the club’s history, where they were beaten 3-1 on aggregate by eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain.

Despite the disappointment, Arteta claimed his Arsenal team had been the competition’s best team that year.

Arsenal’s Champions League Draw

• Bayern Munich (H)
• Inter (A)
• Atletico Madrid (H)
• Club Brugge (A)
• Olympiacos (H)
• Slavia Praha (A)
• Kairat (H)
• Athletic Bilbao (A)

When Will Fixtures Be Released?

With the revamped 36-team Champions League format spread across eight gameweeks from September to January, fixture scheduling remains a major logistical task.

UEFA has confirmed that the full match calendar and kick-off times will be published no later than Saturday, 30 August 2025.

Review of Opponents

Bayern Munich (H)

Few fixtures in European football carry as much baggage for Arsenal fans as meetings with Bayern Munich. The 2010s were marked by heavy defeats at the hands of the German champions.

When the sides clashed in the 2023/24 quarter-finals, Arsenal missed a golden chance to take control at the Emirates before being punished in Munich. This time, with no return leg, the home tie at the Emirates feels like the perfect opportunity to measure how far Arsenal have come as genuine contenders — and perhaps to make a statement and revenge.

Inter Milan (A)

Trips to Italy are rarely straightforward, and facing Inter at San Siro will be no exception. Despite their embarrassing Champions League final loss to PSG last year, Simone Inzaghi’s side remain one of Europe’s most tactically astute outfits, and their defensive resilience has long been a hallmark. Arsenal lost this fixture 1-0 last year in the league phase.

Atletico Madrid (H)

Facing Atletico Madrid is always a brutal test of patience and discipline. Under Diego Simeone, Atleti have perfected the art of defensive organisation, and Arsenal’s own painful memories from the 2017/18 Europa League semi-finals still linger.

Interestingly, last season many felt that Real Madrid would have been a better quarter-final opponent than Atleti, given Real’s more open style. Playing Simeone’s side at home offers Arsenal a chance not only to prove they can break down Europe’s toughest defences but also to lay old ghosts to rest.

Club Brugge (A)

The Belgian champions are no strangers to the Champions League and often punch above their weight. Arsenal will be favourites, but Brugge’s home support and attacking energy can make them dangerous opposition. A professional away performance will be needed to avoid any slip-ups.

Olympiacos (H)

If there’s a European club that feels like part of Arsenal’s modern story, it’s Olympiacos. Between 2009 and 2015, the two sides met four times in the Champions League, before crossing paths four more times in the Europa League from 2020 to 2021. Those ties brought both triumph and heartbreak, including a shock Olympiacos win at the Emirates in 2020.

History will hang over this fixture, but for Arteta’s side, it’s another chance to show how far they’ve moved beyond the inconsistencies of the past.

Slavia Praha (A)

Arsenal fans will remember the Czech side for one of the club’s greatest European nights — a 7-0 victory at the Emirates in 2007, still their biggest-ever home win in the competition. More recently, Arsenal overcame Slavia in the Europa League quarter-finals in 2021 with a commanding 4-0 win in Prague.

This trip might feel like familiar territory, but Slavia’s home crowd makes the away leg trickier than it appears on paper.

Kairat Almaty (H)

Perhaps the most unfamiliar opponent in the group, Kazakh champions Kairat Almaty arrive in the competition having eliminated Celtic in qualifying. While they represent a historic first for Arsenal in terms of opposition, the expectation will be for Arteta’s side to take three points comfortably at home. Anything less would be considered a major upset. Arsenal can feel very fortunate that they wasn't drawn away from home and forced to fly to Kazakhstan and back before a Premier League game.

Athletic Bilbao (A)

The trip to San Mamés is one Arsenal supporters will relish. Bilbao, known for their passionate fanbase and unique Basque-only player policy, provide a unique challenge in European competition and a stunning away day location. While not among Europe’s elite, Bilbao are fiercely competitive at home, and this could be one of the more atmospheric nights of Arsenal’s campaign.

Final Thoughts

Arsenal’s draw is a mix of tradition, rivalry and intrigue. Heavyweights like Bayern, Inter and Atletico offer real tests of Arsenal’s European pedigree, while fixtures against Olympiacos and Slavia carry echoes of past campaigns. Meanwhile, Club Brugge, Bilbao and Kairat add freshness and variety to the schedule.

For Mikel Arteta and his squad, the draw looks manageable — but also loaded with opportunities to exorcise old demons and prove they belong among Europe’s very best.