Arsenal have wrapped up top spot in their Champions League group with a game to spare after a dominant victory at home to Lens made it four wins from five matches.
Arsenal secured a spot in the Champions League’s last 16 with a dominant 6-0 win against Lens.
Despite a previous group stage defeat, the Gunners showcased an impressive comeback in the competition, with six players scoring in the crucial match at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night, guaranteeing not just qualification but also securing the top spot.
Arsenal is aware that, with a final round of matches yet to be played, they will encounter one of the group runners-up in the round of 16. There are still unresolved matters in the other groups.
As the final game approaches, only two teams have secured the second spot in their group. PSV, whom Arsenal already played in the group stage, is one of them. The other is RB Leipzig, and there is a possibility that Arsenal may face them.
The rule prohibiting teams from the same country facing each other in the round of 16 ensures that both Newcastle and Manchester United, potential second-place finishers in their groups, cannot be drawn against Arsenal.
Arsenal’s potential opponents in the next round hinge on the second-place finishers in their respective groups: Napoli or Braga, Real Sociedad or Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid or Lazio, Borussia Dortmund, PSG or AC Milan, RB Leipzig, Barcelona, Porto or Shakhtar Donetsk, and Galatasaray or FC Copenhagen.
Certain opponents are more probable than others. Barcelona is almost certain to secure the top spot in their group, and either Porto or Shakhtar is anticipated to be the runner-up. Similarly, Dortmund only requires a single point in their final game to clinch the top position in their group and avoid being drawn against Arsenal.
“Today was the day to get it done. We did it in a beautiful way,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta told TNT Sports after the victory over Lens.
“We scored five [first-half] goals against a really good side. You can become really sloppy. And there were parts of the second half with different behaviours but we stayed really focused.
“It’s great because the schedule we have at the moment is crazy,” he said after sealing top spot. “We’re already thinking about Wolves in 72 hours. We have to demand more from each other. We’ll have to be well prepared for Wolves.”
Arsenal do have one more Champions League game to come, away against a PSV side who they beat 4-0 in the group stage opener. However, after making sure of top spot in the group, they may choose to rest players.