Who Arsenal FC will face in Champions League last 16 as opponents confirmed

The Gunners finished top of the table in the league phase, winning all eight fixtures, scoring the most goals and conceding the fewest of all 32 teams.

A top-two finish was then made official after a 3-1 victory in the San Siro, meaning Arsenal are now assured of hosting the second legs in all of their knockout matches.

Furthermore, finishing in the top eight in the current format – which came into play last season – ensured Mikel Arteta’s side progressed straight through to the last 16 and avoided a two-legged knockout play-off tie.

Arsenal’s progression straight through to the last 16 means they were able to avoid fixture congestion in February, though their re-arranged Premier League fixture against Wolves did not go to plan.

The first leg of the last 16 will be played on either March 10 or March 11, with the return fixture a week later.

As a result of finishing first in the league phase, Arsenal knew they would face one of the winners of the play-off ties involving the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th seeds.

With the knockout phase play-offs reaching their conclusion on Wednesday night, Arsenal’s potential opponents for the last 16 were narrowed down from four to two.

The Gunners knew they would face either Atalanta or Bayer Leverkusen, with the latter confirmed as their next assignment at Friday’s draw.

Leverkusen played out a goalless draw at home to Olympiacos on Tuesday night to reach the round of 16 for the second season in a row, having won 2-0 in Piraeus the week before thanks to Patrik Schick’s quick-fire second-half double.