Arsenal handed NIGHTMARE return to the Champions League as they face Tottenham and Man City in the Premier League during the European group stages while Man United and Newcastle are given favourable runs
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 with the announcement of next season’s Premier League fixtures promising a difficult balancing act.
Champions League football gets underway on the week commencing 18 September with matches played on the Tuesday and Wednesday of that week 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 opening 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 around the Champions League group stages
That match is currently scheduled for a 3pm Saturday kick-off but will almost certainly be changed to accommodate broadcaster’s 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.
That is then followed by one of Arsenal’s biggest Premier League clashes of the season as 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 match-week.
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 either side of 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 Manchester City side have been handed favourable Premier League games to contend with during the Champions League group stages
Newcastle will face Brentford and Sheffield Untied either side of their opening Champions League game
Manchester United will take on Brighton before their first European encounter next season
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 match-week 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 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 games before the competition’s knockout stages.
Man City are given their first high-profile Premier League game 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.
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