Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham learn dream Champions League scenario as permutations explained

Next week, every UEFA Champions League game will kick off at the same time, with plenty of movement expected up and down the table

Next week, Mikel Arteta will be looking over his shoulder as Liam Rosenior and Thomas Frank look to secure automatic qualification to the UEFA Champions League knockout stages. Arsenal confirmed their place in the round of 16 on Tuesday night, while Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur this week climbed into the top eight.

The Gunners enjoyed a convincing win over Inter Milan at the San Siro to retain their lead at the top of the table. The north Londoners are the only team to remain unbeaten in the 'league phase' and win each of their seven games.

The Blues and the Lilywhites also banked three points, beating Pafos and Borussia Dortmund respectively. On Wednesday, January 28, all 18 matches will kick off at the same time (8pm GMT), with plenty of movement expected up and down the table.

If Chelsea and Tottenham fail to finish in the top eight, like Arsenal, depending on results elsewhere, they'll either get a seeded or an unseeded place in the knockout phase. The two-legged tie will be played in February before the last 16 gets underway in March.

So, with that being said, football.london has looked at the dream scenario for each of the three Premier League giants.

Arsenal

Arsenal secured automatic qualification to the round of 16 when they cruised past Inter Milan on Tuesday night. Bayern Munich, who are three points behind the Gunners and second in the 'league phase' table, did so too on Wednesday evening with a routine victory against Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.

Unless Arsenal lose to Kairat and the German giants make up a five-goal difference while beating PSV Eindhoven, Arteta's side will top the table. Fortunately for the north Londoners, who can't finish lower than 2nd, their final position in the 'league phase' won't change which batch of teams they could be drawn against from the knockout phase play-offs.

So, draw dependant, the teams finishing 1st and 2nd in the table will face one of the 18th, 17th, 16th, or 15th-placed teams in the last 16. As it stands, for example, those teams would be Qarabag, Galatasaray, Borussia Dortmund and Juventus.

But, of course, that could all change, with only a couple of points separating many of the midtable teams.

Chelsea

Unlike Arteta, Rosenior won't be afforded the luxury of rotating his starting lineup on the European stage next week. Chelsea have at least guaranteed a knockout play-off place, but automatic qualification to the last 16 remains entirely possible.

If the Blues were to beat Napoli next week, they would likely finish 7th or 8th in the table and, by draw, face a 9th/10th/23rd/24th-placed team in the last 16. In doing so, however, Chelsea could face either Arsenal or the 2nd-placed team (as it stands, Bayern Munich) in the quarter-finals.

If the west Londoners were to draw against Napoli, they would likely finish 13th or 14th and get a seeded knockout play-off place. By draw, Chelsea would play a two-legged tie against either the 19th or 20th-placed team in the table, which, as it stands, would be Marseille or Bayer Leverkusen, respectively.

Assuming the Blues progress, by draw, they would lock horns with either the 3rd or 4th-placed team in the table, which, as it stands, would be Real Madrid or Liverpool.

If Chelsea were to lose to Napoli, they would likely finish 15th or 16th and get a seeded knockout play-off place by the skin of their teeth. Rosenior's side would lock horns with a 17th or 18th-placed team before facing either Arsenal or the 2nd-placed team, which, as it stands, would be Bayern Munich, in the last 16.

It's worth noting that Chelsea can't finish lower than 14th if they lose to Napoli by just one goal and Sporting CP loses to Athletic Bilbao. That said, anything less than a win in Naples and the Blues will likely finish 15th.

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham are in a similar boat to Chelsea. The Lilywhites have also at least guaranteed a knockout play-off place, but automatic qualification to the last 16 certainly remains achievable.

Even if Spurs were to beat Eintracht Frankfurt next week, they would still likely remain 5th in the table and, by draw, face an 11th/12th/21st/22nd-placed team in the last 16. In doing so, however, Tottenham could face either Real Madrid or Liverpool in the quarter-finals.

If the Lilywhites were to draw next week, they would likely finish in the upper echelons of the seeded knockout play-off places, with just a point separating Spurs in 5th from Atalanta in 13th.

Assuming Tottenham finished 9th or 10th, they would play a two-legged tie against either the 23rd or 24th-placed team in the table, which, as it stands, would be Athletic Bilbao or Olympiacos, respectively.

If Frank's side were to lose to Eintracht Frankfurt, they would likely finish 13th or 14th and get a seeded knockout play-off place. By draw, Spurs would play a two-legged tie against either the 19th or 20th-placed team in the table, which, as it stands, would be Marseille or Bayer Leverkusen, respectively.

Assuming Tottenham progress, by draw, they would face either the 3rd or 4th-placed team in the table, which, as it stands, would be Real Madrid or Liverpool.