Arsenal could face trip to Germany

Wednesday marked the conclusion of the 2023/24 Champions League group stage, with two of the 4 English groups – particularly Newcastle and Manchester United – ending backside of their respective teams.

Arsenal and Manchester Metropolis handed their group stage check with flying colors and can be within the pot for the Spherical of 16 draw on Monday. While the draw is after all random, sure guidelines and restrictions imply some sides have a greater probability of drawing sure groups than others.

We assess who Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta’s males have the perfect probability of being pitted towards in Monday’s draw.

Arsenal

RB Leipzig – 7/2

The presence of three German sides within the Spherical of 16 means there’s solely so many sides Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig can face in Monday’s draw, so it’s solely pure that Arsenal have a greater probability of being pitted towards Marco Rose’s males than anybody else.

Leipzig have made an excellent begin to their Bundesliga marketing campaign – sitting seven factors off shock league leaders Bayer Leverkusen and three factors behind present champions Bayern Munich. Regardless of being drawn towards European champions Manchester Metropolis, Leipzig managed to safe second place in Group G, successful all of their video games aside from these two losses to Pep Guardiola’s males.

Lazio – 6/1

Arsenal’s Spherical of 16 opposition may likewise come within the type of an Italian outfit, with Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio the following almost certainly workforce the Gunners can face at 6/1. The Rome aspect have endured a poor begin domestically and sit tenth in Serie A after 15 video games, although three wins from their six Champions League video games in Group E was sufficient to see them qualify in second place behind Atletico Madrid.

It’s price noting that the final time Sarri confronted Arsenal in Europe was with Chelsea in that fateful Europa League closing conflict in 2019, so the Gunners will should be at their sharpest ought to they be pitted towards the Italian supervisor once more.

Manchester Metropolis

PSV Eindhoven – 11/2

With Pep Guardiola’s males characteristically successful all six of their Champions League group video games, a draw towards one of many second finest sides of the group stage likewise lies in retailer for the reigning champions, with Dutch outfit PSV Eindhoven deemed one of many likeliest sides the Cityzens may face subsequent February.

PSV remarkably maintain an ideal home report to date – successful all 15 of their Eredivisie fixtures and opening up a 10-point lead on the summit of the league, whereas definitely benefiting from traditional title rivals Ajax’s sudden demise. They have been pitted towards one other English outfit in Arsenal for the group stage of the Champions League, holding Mikel Arteta’s males to a 1-1 draw within the dwelling leg and dropping simply certainly one of their six video games.

Porto – 11/2

Portuguese aspect Porto have been given an analogous probability of drawing Manchester Metropolis at 11/2 and will definitely arrive within the Spherical of 16 filled with confidence after matching Barcelona’s 12-point tally in Group H, qualifying second on the head-to-head rule regardless of having a greater aim distinction than their Spanish counterparts.

They gained 4 of their six group video games, with two losses to the Catalan giants by a single aim, and likewise carry an inexpensive home report as we method the midway mark of the season – successful 10 of their 13 Liga Portugal fixtures, which sees them share the lead within the division with Sporting Lisbon.

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