Arsenal have learned the results of the Champions League draw for the remaining games, with their path to the final now set.
Nicolas Toukat/AFP Photo: Getty Images
After winning the Champions League stage, Arsenal was able to skip the knockout stage play-offs held last week and enter the top 16.
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Arsenal’s first place also guarantees that the Gunners will play at home in the second leg of the last 16, and can also enter the quarter-finals and semi-finals if they can advance.
Furthermore, Arsenal knew they would not be able to face second-placed Bayern Munich before the tournament final, as the two teams were destined to be on opposite sides of the draw.
Photo by Paul Barrena/Getty Images
After the knockout play-offs this week, Arsenal know they will face Leverkusen or Atalanta in the next round, with the draw now set to be Leverkusen.
Beyond that, if Arsenal advance, they will face either Bodo/Glimt or Sporting Lisbon in the quarter-finals, depending on who wins. They will then face Newcastle United, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid or Tottenham in the semi-finals.
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All other remaining teams are unable to face Arsenal until the final, which separates the Gunners from the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and, of course, Bayern.
Champions League schedule
Photo by Alex Pantlin/Getty Images
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10/11 March: Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal – Round of 16 first leg
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17/18 March – Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen – Last-16 second leg
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April 7/8 – Quarter-final first leg (away)
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April 14/15 – Quarter-final second leg (home)
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28/29 April – Semi-final first leg (away)
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5/6 May – Semi-final second leg (home)
Arsenal will face Mansfield Town (away) before the first leg of the round of 16, Everton (away) between the two legs, and the League Cup final after the second leg.
The exact date for the last 16 tie should be confirmed by the end of the day, with Arsenal likely hoping to play the second leg on Tuesday, March 17, to get plenty of rest before the Carabao Cup final.
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If they reach the Champions League quarter-finals, Arsenal will play the first leg after a possible FA Cup quarter-final, then face Bournemouth (home) between the legs, and then Manchester City (away) after the second leg.
In the semi-finals, Arsenal will face Newcastle United (home) in the first leg, Fulham (home) in the two legs, and West Ham United (away) in the second leg.
With the FA Cup final now taking place before the end of the Premier League, Arsenal will have free time in midweek between the end of the league and the Champions League final if they advance.