Arsenal have discovered their fate (Picture: Getty)
Arsenal have discovered their potential route to the Champions League final after the draw for the tournament’s knockout stages took place.
Mikel Arteta’s side enjoyed a perfect run in the league phase, winning all eight of their matches to lay down a marker to the competition.
Last year, the Gunners reached the semi-finals before bowing out to the eventual champions, Paris Saint-Germain, following a 3-1 aggregate defeat.
But the north London side will be hopeful of kicking on further this season, and now their route to getting back to the Champions League final for the first time since 2006.
What is Arsenal’s route to the Champions League final?
Arsenal will play Bayer Leverkusen in the last-16 of the Champions League. The German club beat Olympiacos 2-0 in the play-offs and currently sit sixth in the Bundesliga.
Should the Gunners progress past the German side, a favourable quarter-final awaits against either Bodo/Glimt or Sporting CP.
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Sporting, like Arsenal secured a top-eight finish in the league phase, while Bodo Glimt shocked Italian giants Inter Milan to reach this point in the competition.
Champions League last-16 draw in full
The Champions League brackets in full (Click image to expand)
Real Madrid vs Man CitySporting Lisbon vs Bodø/GlimtPSG vs ChelseaNewcastle vs BarcelonaLiverpool vs GalatasarayAtletico Madrid vs TottenhamAtalanta vs Bayern MunichBayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal
A potential semi-final awaits against either Newcastle, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid or local rivals Tottenham.
Newcastle face a tough task against Barca, while Igor Tudor’s side will look to rectify their horrid recent record against Atletico in the other last-16 clash.
Arsenal’s first-place finish in the league phase means they also get the advantage of playing the second leg of each knockout tie at home.
Arsenal finished top of the league phase (Picture: Getty)
And should Arsenal reach the final, one of the eight teams on the other side of the draw await.
A potential rematch with PSG from last year is a possibility, while all-English match-ups versus Liverpool, Chelsea or Manchester City could be on the cards, too.
Arsenal’s potential path to Champions League final:
Last-16: Bayer Leverkusen
Quarter-finals: Sporting CP
Semi-finals: Barcelona
Finals: Bayern Munich
Champions League knockout phase fixture dates
Last 16: March 10/11 and March 17/18
Quarter-finals: April 7/8 and April 14/15
Semi-finals: April 28/29 and May 5/6
Final: May 30 (Budapest)
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