Arsenal and Mikel Arteta have been handed a nightmare return to the Champions League that see’s them contend with Premier League clashes against Everton, Tottenham, and Manchester City during the European competition’s group stages.
The Gunners are back in the big-time after a six-year absence from the Champions League and face a difficult start to life in Europe with the announcement of next season’s Premier League fixtures promising a tough balancing act.
Champions League football gets underway on the week commencing September 18, with matches played on the Tuesday and Wednesday and all four competing Premier League teams playing across both days.
Arsenal have the most difficult set of fixtures to contend with upon their return to Champions League football with the Gunners travelling to face Everton at Goodison Park three days before the first round of European group games.
They must then recover quickly before hosting Tottenham in a London derby just three days later if they are one of the Champions League teams competing on the Wednesday evening.
Arsenal face a difficult start to life upon their return to the Champions League next season
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta must balance high-profile Premier League clashes against Everton, Tottenham and Manchester City around their Champions League group stage matches
That match is currently scheduled for a 3pm Saturday kick-off but will almost certainly be changed to accommodate broadcasters and will likely either be moved to another time across the same weekend.
They must then contend with a trip to face Bournemouth on the south coast before the second week of Champions League group stage matches.
Arsenal next face one of their biggest Premier League clashes of the season when they welcome Man City to the Emirates on the following weekend in a match that will see last season’s title challengers go head-to-head.
Meanwhile, fellow competing Champions League teams Manchester United, Newcastle, and reigning European champions Man City have been handed more favourable domestic fixtures to contend with in-between their European duties.
Man United host Brighton before their first venture back into Europe’s premier competition, with City travelling to the home of Europa Conference League winners West Ham.
Newcastle fans will be delighted to see themselves avoid one of the English top-flight’s feared top six teams when they take on Brentford before the first Champions League matchday.
United boss Erik ten Hag will be eyeing up early wins in both the Premier League and Champions League as he is afforded the luxury of playing Vincent Kompany’s Burnley and Crystal Palace before their second Champions League encounter.
Similarly, City have to contend with games against Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton.
Meanwhile, Newcastle will travel to face Sheffield United before welcoming Burnley to St James’ Park before their second week of Champions League football.
Pep Guardiola and his Treble-winning Manchester City side have been handed favourable Premier League games to contend with during the Champions League group stages
Newcastle face Brentford and Sheffield United either side of their first Champions League tie
Manchester United will take on Brighton before their first European encounter next season
Arteta will see his Arsenal team take on fierce rivals Chelsea in the midst of their European run
Things don’t get any better for Arsenal as they head into their third week of the European group stages with Mikel Arteta and his Gunners squad taking on their rivals Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on October 21. Champions League football gets back underway three days later.
Man City host Brighton, Newcastle take on Crystal Palace and Man United travel to Sheffield on the same weekend as Arsenal’s derby clash with the Blues.
The business end of the Champions League see’s matchday four take place across November 7 and 8, while English teams will feature in the league just days earlier.
Newcastle will attempt to inflict further misery on Arsenal when they host the Gunners in the north east before the fourth round of Champions League group stage action.
Manchester City will be confident of competing on all-fronts during the Champions League group stages after being handed favourable Premier League fixtures in the same period
United will hope to balance the Champions League group stage with favourable league games
Manchester United must navigate their way around a trip to Fulham, while Man City face Bournemouth.
Matchday five and six of the Champions League group stages fails to offer much more comfort to Arsenal supporters as games against Brentford and Aston Villa precede their final European ties before the competition’s knockout stages.
Man City are given their first high-profile Premier League clash before a Champions League game when they meet Liverpool at the Etihad on November 25, with Newcastle taking on Chelsea and United entertaining a visit to Everton on the same weekend.
Three English teams will be competing in the Europa League next season with West Ham, Liverpool and Brighton all featuring in Europe’s second-tier competition.
The Europa League group stages will begin on September 21 with Brighton visiting Old Trafford, Liverpool handed a trip to Molineux and Aston Villa taking on Brighton in the Premier League beforehand.
West Ham will face Man City in the Premier League before their first Europa League match
Liverpool players must contend with a Merseyside derby clash against Everton before a Europa League group stage game on October 26, as they look to bounce back after a poor campaign
Liverpool have been dealt a trip to Tottenham before their second group stage match on October 5, with West Ham hosting Sheffield United and Europa Conference League competing Villa hosting Brighton.
The Hammers will then become Villa’s next opponent the days before the third Europa League matchday on October 26, with Brighton faced with a trip to the formidable Etihad and Liverpool facing a Merseyside derby against Everton.
Liverpool will finish their final three Europa League group stage matches with Premier League trips to Luton, Man City and Crystal Palace facing them in the build-up.
West Ham will play Brentford, Burnley, and Fulham away before their remaining three Europa League group stage games, with Brighton on the road against Everton and Nottingham Forest before hosting Burnley in the days preceding their final European group game.