Arsenal given Bayer Leverkusen draw boost after Champions League and transfer record emerges

Arsenal have been given further clarity on their potential UEFA Champions League opponents

Bayer Leverkusen have locked themselves in as one of Arsenal’s potential opponents for the last-16 of the UEFA Champions League. The draw, set to take place on Friday, will see the Gunners discover their next opponents and which side of the bracket they feature.

It will reveal their pathway to the final. Arsenal still await the outcome of the second play-off, which could see a face-off with either Borussia Dortmund or Atalanta. The former are leading with a two-goal scoreline and go to Bergamo tonight.

Arsenal most recently played Leverkusen in a pre-season friendly in 2024 when Xabi Alonso was still in charge. The Gunners put four past the then Bundesliga champions, having gone the season unbeaten before, with Granit Xhaka in the middle of the midfield.

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Many of those players have since left, including the former Arsenal man who has since joined Sunderland. The Gunners themselves even signed one of the title winners, Piero Hincapie, who would be able to face his former club, barring any clauses in his contract, under current UEFA rules.

Florian Wirtz left for Liverpool, as did Jeremie Frimpong. Amine Adli joined Bournemouth, Jonathan Tah went to Bayern Munich, which is also where Josip Stanisic returned following his loan spell.

Looking at the side which beat Olympiacos 2-0 on aggregate to reach the last-16, the only familiar faces that remain are Alex Grimaldo, Patrick Schick, Edmond Tapsoba and Exequiel Palacios, among a couple of others.

Arsenal would certainly favour themselves against a team significantly weaker than the side that met them in the off-season. Not to mention that Mikel Arteta’s team have got even stronger since then, with a considerable amount invested in the squad.

The last time the two sides met competitively was all the way back in 2002. A 5-1 aggregate win for the north London side with iconic names like Thierry Henry, Robert Pires, Patrick Vieira and Dennis Bergkamp on the scoresheet.

That legendary side could not go the distance, however, in the competition. Arteta has a great chance of doing it with this side.

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