Arsenal will enjoy a brief respite during the Champions League playoffs, but they are already aware of the teams they might face in the next stage of the competition. Their hard work to finish among the top eight teams in the group stages has allowed them to avoid the playoff round and move directly into the round of 16.

Arsenal did not always enjoy the easiest of Champions League campaigns but Mikel Arteta’s side are safely through to the last 16 as one of the top eight seeds. The Gunners required heroics from David Raya to earn a 0-0 draw in Atalanta before slipping to a 1-0 defeat to Inter Milan in the San Siro early on in the league phase.

Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa have both secured their places in the Champions League last 16 knockout stage following Wednesday night's final group matches while Manchester City have made it through to the play-offs after beating Club Brugge.