After an impressive showing in the group stages, Arsenal will be seeded in today’s draw for the Champions League last 16. It takes place at 11am UK time in Nyon, Switzerland and will be available to watch via UEFA.com.
The first legs will take place on 13/14 or 20/21 February, while the return legs are on 5/6 or 12/13 March. As a seeded team, Arsenal will be at home in the second leg. However, it’s worth remembering that away goals no longer count.
Here’s a run-through of who we could face…
Lazio
Pedigree: Last season, they finished runners-up behind Napoli in Serie A but struggled in the Europa League group stage and exited the Conference League in the last-16. This is only their third UCL campaign since 2008.
Danger man: They are still reliant on 33-year-old captain Ciro Immobile for goals.
Previous meetings: It’s 23 years since we met Lazio in the Champions League, beating them 2-0 at home and drawing 1-1 away. Also played them twice in the 1970 Fairs Cup.
Nasty narrative: Matteo Guendouzi haunts Mikel Arteta on his return to the Emirates with a stoppage-time winner. He celebrates in the Spaniard’s face by simulating a night on the laughing gas.
Inter Milan
Pedigree: Last season, they finished third in Serie A, won the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa and came within a whisker of Champions League success only to lose to City in the final. Simone Inzaghi’s side have carried their cup form into the league this campaign and are currently top of Serie A.
Danger man: Once linked with Arsenal, Lautaro Martinez is banging them in this season. He has 14 goals to his name already.
Previous meetings: You might remember a rather famous 5-1 win in the San Siro 20 years ago. In the same group stage, we lost 3-0 at Highbury.
Nasty Narrative: Alexis Sanchez dives for a last-minute pen that’s converted by Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Humber and Atom race onto the pitch to celebrate in Inter shirts.
Napoli
Pedigree: They may have ended a 33-year wait for a Serie A title but they’ve struggled on the domestic front since coach Luciano Spalletti walked away in the summer. New boss Rudi Garcia lasted only 16 games and has been replaced by Walter Mazzarri who managed the club previously between 2009-2013. As things stand, they are sixth in Serie A. They progressed in the Champions League behind Real Madrid after taking points home and away from Braga and Union Berlin.
Danger man: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – or “Kvaradona” as he’s known was a revelation last season with 17 assists and 14 goals in all competitions while Victor Osimhen, much coveted by supporters in N5, bagged 36 goals. Both are putting up decent numbers this season too.
Previous meetings: There have been four meetings in the last 10 years, split between the Champions League in 13/14 and the Emery run to the Europa League final in 18/19. Arsenal have won three and lost once. Last time out, a fine free-kick by Alex Lacazette separated the sides in Italy.
Nasty narrative: Osimhen scores a hat-trick in London and heads straight to Stamford Bridge to sign a pre-contract agreement with Chelsea.
Paris Saint Germain
Pedigree: We’re not even going to check, but we assume they won Ligue 1, as they usually do. In the Champions League, it’s been a steady decline since the high point of reaching the final in 2019/20. The last two seasons they’ve gone out in the last 16 and they were made to sweat in this year’s group stages after a tonking by Newcastle.
Danger man: Future Arsenal star Kylian Mbappe is quite useful.
Previous meetings: Thanks to a Kevin Campbell goal in the semi-final second leg at Highbury, we beat PSG on our way to Cup Winners’ Cup success in 1994. We also drew with them twice in the group stages of the Champions League in 2016/17.
Nasty narrative: Kia Joorabchian is seen twerking in the directors’ box after one-time target Layvin Kurzawa scores a hat-trick.
RB Leipzig
Pedigree: Only founded in 2009, Disgustingly Sweet Energy Drink Leipzig have finished in the Bundesliga’s top four for the last five seasons. They’ve also won the German Cup two years running. Since reaching the Champions League semi-finals in 2019/20 they’ve twice gone out at the last 16 stage and had a group stage exit.
Danger man: Xavi Simons caused us all sorts of problems while he was on loan at PSV Eindhoven last season. He has 15 goal involvements in 23 matches this season.
Previous meetings: None
Nasty narrative: The irony of being knocked out by a lad called Kevin Kampl wouldn’t be lost on us.
FC Porto
Pedigree: Finished second behind Benfica in the Primeira Liga. Near ever-present in the Champions League, they tend to get out of the group stages and then struggle.
Danger man: Mehdi Taremi scored a hatful of goals last season. He’s not at the same level this year but nine goal involvements in 21 matches isn’t anything to sniff at. Winger Galeno has been a hit in the Champions League scoring four goals and making three assists.
Previous meetings: Six in total, dating back to 2005. We’re three wins from three at home but trips to the Estadio do Dragao have proved troublesome. We’ve lost the last two.
Nasty narrative: Fabio Vieira, back from injury, misses the decisive penalty as we exit Europe for a second year in a row via a shootout.
FC Copenhagen
Pedigree: After working through three qualifiers, the Danes were the surprise package of the group stage, qualifying alongside Bayern Munich at the expense of Manchester United and Galatasaray. The only other time they reached the last 16 was in 2010/11. On the domestic front, they are third in the Danish Superliga – which they won for the 15th time last time out – but are currently on a lengthy winter break that ends in mid-February.
Danger man: Polish goalkeeper Kamil Grabara was voted player of the season last time out. He’s previously spent five years on Liverpool’s books and was on loan with Emile Smith Rowe at Huddersfield a couple of years back. In midfield, Lukas Lerager enjoyed the group stages scoring three goals and making one assist. Also on their books are twins Oscar and Emil Hojlund, the younger brothers of United’s Rasmus.
Previous meetings: None
Nasty narrative: Nicklas Bendtner welcomes the Arsenal first team squad to join him in a “quick half” on arrival but they’re quickly lured into a debauched 24-hour bender that sees the team too hungover to play. Several taxis are frotted.
It’s just nice that there’s no Barcelona on that list.
I’m sure UEFA will still find a way to draw us against Bayern
Or Bayern
I think barca would suit us now, they’re not great.
Excellent work , all in one place !
We can beat them all – but would be nice to avoid PSG for now…
As a Dane I have to say that we should not underestimate FC Copenhagen, should we meet them. Saw all their games in the group stages, and they were actually playing really well. Fully deserved to qualify instead of manure and Gala! Just saying…
Definitely think we can take anyone on that list but I’d rather avoid Inter if I’m honest. They’re a proper football team, unlike PSG.
Now now, we’ve all been scolded that you can’t be mean to plucky little nation state sportswashing teams like upstarts Saudi Arabia fc, sorry, moobcastle, I mean the bbc’s favorites, I mean those who sold their souls for heaps of ill gotten cash…
Wonder what we would consider a nice draw🤔 anywho, after a great weekend I am looking forward to a great draw
“away goals no longer count”. Wow, that’s going to be make some very offensive home displays 😂
Lazio, please.
The “nasty narratives” were brilliant and made this an enjoyable read even though I already knew the draw result.