Arsenal route to the UEFA Champions League final revealed after last-16 draw

According to a report by Metro, Arsenal have discovered their potential route to the UEFA Champions League final following the latest knockout stage draw.

The north London club will face Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16 after the German side defeated Olympiacos 2-0 in the play-offs. Leverkusen currently sit sixth in the Bundesliga standings.

Arsenal enjoyed a perfect league phase campaign, winning all eight of their matches to finish top of the standings. The club reached the semi-finals last season before losing 3-1 on aggregate to eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain. Arsenal will be aiming to progress further this season as they target their first Champions League final appearance since 2006.

If Arsenal advance past Leverkusen, they could face either Sporting Lisbon or Bodø/Glimt in the quarter-finals. Sporting Lisbon also finished inside the top eight during the league phase, while Bodø/Glimt reached this stage after eliminating Italian club Inter Milan earlier in the competition.

A potential semi-final clash could involve either Newcastle United, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, or local rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Newcastle face a challenging tie against Barcelona, while Tottenham will meet Atletico Madrid in another high-profile fixture.

Arsenal’s league phase performance means they will play the second leg of each knockout round at home, providing a possible advantage in decisive matches. Should the Gunners reach the final, they could face opponents from the opposite side of the draw, including teams such as Liverpool, Chelsea or Manchester City, as well as defending champions Paris Saint-Germain.

The Champions League knockout fixtures will begin with the last 16 matches scheduled for March 10/11 and March 17/18. Quarter-final matches will be played on April 7/8 and April 14/15, while semi-finals are set for April 28/29 and May 5/6.

The Champions League final will take place in Budapest on May 30. The draw has set up several high-profile matchups as teams continue their pursuit of European football’s top club prize.