Published: 19:55 BST, 27 August 2026 | Updated: 00:44 BST, 28 August 2026
Jude Bellingham, Jose Mourinho and Harry Kane all stand in Arsenal's way as they seek to go one better than last season's Champions League final defeat.
The Premier League winners have been handed a tricky looking path to the knockout stages – along with rivals Manchester City – following a draw overseen by Gunners legend Thierry Henry in Monaco which could also prompt a return to England for Mason Greenwood.
Mikel Arteta's side will be keen to dispel the heartbreaking penalty shoot-out defeat to Paris Saint-Germain however, there will no be no easy route to the final at the home of Atletico Madrid.
While 24 out of the 36 sides will qualify from the league format, Arsenal will need to acquire the required points from a tricky looking list.
Bellingham and Mourinho's Real Madrid will head to north London, along with the transfer target they missed out on in Vinicius Junior. Declan Rice and Co will jet to Bavaria to face prolific former Tottenham striker Kane's Bayern Munich. Clashes against Borussia Dortmund, Real Betis, Lille and Napoli will also provide a stiff test while relatively more straightforward challenges await in the shape of Azerbaijan minnows Sabah and Slavia Prague.
Manchester City, entering the tournament without Pep Guardiola at the helm for the first time in a decade, may also be cursing UEFA's computer.
Last season's runners-up Arsenal (left) will face Real Madrid in one their Champions League eight fixtures to reach the knockouts
Enzo Maresca's (right) Man City have been dealt tough games including vs PSG and Barcelona
Enzo Maresca's side will take on champions Paris Saint-Germain at the Etihad and make a trip to the Nou Camp to face Barcelona.
Portuguese duo Sporting Lisbon and Porto also feature, along with Napoli and Leipzig. AEK Athens and Lens complete a what is a seriously daunting-looking list.
It will be a trip down memory lane for neighbours United, who return to the competition following a two-year absence. Michael Carrick's side will entertain Bayern Munich, in a repeat of the epic 1999 final, while Roma – memorably crushed 7-1 in 2007 – will also visit Old Trafford.
There may well be some away days to relish for the club's supporters, with their list featuring trips to Sporting Lisbon, Atletico Madrid and Cesc Fabregas' Como. United, currently on 293, will become the first English team to play more than 300 games in the competition, with Villarreal, Leipzig and Sabah completing their schedule.
Andoni Iraola's Liverpool may well be pleased with how things played out in Monte Carlo. They will host Atletico Madrid, Porto, Villareal and Lens and travel to Inter Milan, Club Brugge, Fenerbahce and LASK.
Europa League champions Aston Villa, who started their season with a 4-0 pasting at Brighton and Hove Albion, will also host PSG and travel to Barcelona, like City. Borussia Dortmund, and Greenwood's Fenerbahce and Viking will travel to Birmingham while Emery's side will go to Club Brugge, Galatasaray and Slavia Prague.
