Arsenal handed NIGHTMARE Champions League return after Premier League fixtures are announced
Arsenal gave NIGHTMARE a return to the Champions League as they take on Tottenham and Man City in the Premier League during the European group stage, while Man United and Newcastle receive favorable points
Arsenal and Mikel Arteta have been given a nightmare return to the Champions League as they face Premier League clashes with Everton, Tottenham and Manchester City during the group stage of European competition.
The Gunners are back after a six-year absence from the Champions League and are in for a rocky start with the announcement of next season’s Premier League fixtures promising a difficult balancing act.
Champions League football kicks off the week of September 18 with matches played on the Tuesday and Wednesday of that week, with all four participating Premier League teams playing on both days.
Arsenal have the toughest run of games to contend with on their return to Champions League football, with the Gunners traveling to Everton at Goodison Park three days before the first round of European group matches.
They then need to recover quickly before hosting Tottenham in a London derby just three days later if they are one of the Champions League sides to compete on opening Wednesday night.
Arsenal are in for a rocky start as they return to the Champions League next season
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta must balance high-profile Premier League clashes around Champions League group stage
That game is currently scheduled to kick off on Saturday at 3pm, but will almost certainly be changed to accommodate broadcasters and will likely be moved to a different time on the same weekend.
They will then face Bournemouth on the south coast for the second week of the Champions League group stage matches.
That is then followed by one of Arsenal’s biggest Premier League clashes of the season, when they welcome Man City to the Emirates the following weekend in a match that pits last season’s title challengers against each other.
Meanwhile, fellow competitive Champions League sides Manchester United, Newcastle and reigning European champions Man City have been given more favorable domestic fixtures to play between their European duties.
Man United host Brighton before their first return to Europe’s premier league, with City traveling to the home of Europa Conference League winners West Ham.
Newcastle fans will be delighted to see them evade one of the dreaded top six sides of England’s top flight when they take on Brentford for the first Champions League match week.
United boss Erik ten Hag will be eyeing early victories in both the Premier League and Champions League as he will have the luxury of playing Vincent Kompany’s Burnley and Crystal Palace on opposite sides of their second Champions League tie.
Likewise, City have to contend with games against Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton.
Meanwhile, Newcastle travel to Sheffield United before welcoming Burnley to St James’ Park for their second week of Champions League football.
Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City side have been given favorable Premier League fixtures to compete in the Champions League group stage
Newcastle take on Brentford and Sheffield Untied on opposite sides of their opening Champions League game
Manchester United take on Brighton for their first European meeting next season
Things aren’t getting any better for Arsenal as they enter their third week of the European group stage, which sees Mikel Arteta and his Gunners side take on rivals Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on October 21. Three days later, the Champions League football will start again.
Manchester 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 the fourth week of competition, will take place on November 7 and 8, while English teams will appear in the competition just days before.
Newcastle will look to inflict further misery on Arsenal when they host the Gunners in the North East for the fourth round of the Champions League group stage.
Manchester United must fight their way on a side trip to Fulham as Man City take on Bournemouth.
Matchdays five and six of the Champions League group stage aren’t offering much more comfort to Arsenal supporters as games against Brentford and Aston Villa precede their final European fixtures before the competition’s knockout stage.
Manchester City will get their first high-profile Premier League fixture for a Champions League fixture when they face Liverpool at the Etihad on November 25, with Newcastle taking on Chelsea and United visiting Everton on the same weekend.
