Arsenal will play Bayer Leverkusen in the last-16 of the Champions League, while their road to the Budapest final has been set.
Mikel Arteta’s side won all eight of their games in the league phase to top the standings, in an impressive start to their continental campaign.
The stakes will be raised, though, by knockout football and Arteta will have to manage the demands of also chasing a long-awaited Premier League title.
And the Gunners will be determined to go one step better after defeat to eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain in last season’s semi-finals.
Leverkusen, the 2023-24 Bundesliga champions, secured a place in the last-16 after a 0-0 draw with Olympiacos completed a 2-0 aggregate win. Arsenal have only played the German side twice, during the group phase of the 2001-02 Champions League.
The two-legged tie will be contested on Wednesday 11 March (in Leverkusen) and Tuesday 17 March (at the Emirates Stadium).
Arsenal’s Champions League draw
Should they progress past Leverkusen, Arsenal will face either Bodo/Glimt or Sporting CP in the quarter-finals. As Arsenal are top seeds, they will be at home in the second leg.
What about the semi-finals?
If Arsenal return to the semi-finals for the second consecutive season, they know they would play one of four teams:
They are Newcastle, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Tottenham.
Again, as Arsenal are top seeds, they will be at home in the second leg.
Full Champions League bracket
Top half
Paris Saint-Germain vs Chelsea
Galatasaray vs Liverpool
Real Madrid vs Manchester City
Atalanta vs Bayern Munich
Bottom half
Newcastle vs Barcelona
Atletico Madrid vs Tottenham
Bodo/Glimt vs Sporting CP
Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal
What are the match dates?
The last-16 ties will take place in mid-March. Here are the remaining round dates:
Round of 16: 10/11 & 17/18 March 2026
Quarter-finals: 7/8 & 14/15 April 2026
Semi-finals: 28/29 April & 5/6 May 2026
Final: 30 May 2026 (Budapest)
What are Arsenal’s Champions League odds?
The best betting sites have priced Arsenal up as the favourites to win the tournament this season.
Winner – 7/2
To reach the final – 7/4
Odds provided by BetMGM
