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The Gunners face a disheartening EM draw
Arsenal will return to the Champions League next season for the first time since the 2016/17 campaign.
The Gunners have botched their title claim in recent weeks, but fans can still look forward to a return to Europe’s top flight next season.
However, it could be a tough reintroduction for Mikel Arteta and company with a potential death squad in the pipeline.
Lacking European success in recent years, Arsenal are likely to end up in Pot 3 in August’s group stage draw.
Pot 1 will be littered with quality and populated by the winners of Europe’s top seven leagues as well as the Europa League winners.
This could result in Arsenal having to face Bayern Munich again… who famously beat Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal 10-2 on aggregate in 2017. Or they could face PSG, Barcelona or Napoli. You cannot play against Manchester City as teams from the same country are kept separate.
From Pot 2, the Gunners could draw lurking perpetual European champions Real Madrid, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side being beaten for the LaLiga title by Barcelona.
In the meantime, pot 3 should be populated not only by the Gunners but also by teams like Shakhtar Donetsk, RB Salzburg and Lazio.
Should they survive two qualifying rounds, Marseille could be drawn from Pot 4 to face the Gunners.
The French squad is full of former Gooners – with Alexis Sanchez, Matteo Guendouzi and Sead Kolasinac. Whilst Nuno Tavares was on loan at Marseille from the north Londoners this season.
