Champions League draw LIVE: Play-off round draw as Arsenal and Liverpool learn potential opponents

The latest updates as Arsenal find out the pairings for the knockout play-off round

Arsenal will be watching the play-off and knockout rounds of the Champions League draw closely.

The UEFA Champions League league phase has now come to an end and we head into the meat of the knockout rounds. Arsenal can sit back and relax for a few weeks having finished in the top eight and made it through to the last 16 already.

The teams finishing from ninth to 24th in the expanded competition will now face a two-legged play-off to join the top eight teams in the round of 16.

And the draw for those play-offs is taking place at UEFA headquarters in Nyon today. Arsenal already know their potential opponents, given how the new tournament works, but they may well get a better indication depending on who is drawn against whom in their bracket.

It’s a bit of a complicated procedure – and Manchester City are involved in today’s draw – but we’re going to talk you through it and we will have the updates as they happen right here in our live blog.

10:32Joe Doyle

Latest Odds

Ahead of the draw, here are the latest odds to win the competition, courtesy of Betway.

2024/25 Champions League Winner:

Liverpool – 5/1

Real Madrid – 11/1

Barcelona – 6/1

Arsenal – 13/2

Manchester City – 8/1

Bayern Munich – 9/1

PSG – 12/1

Inter Milan – 14/1

Atletico Madrid – 20/1

Bayer Leverkusen – 25/1

Atalanta – 33/1

Aston Villa – 40/1

AC Milan – 80/1

Borussia Dortmund – 80/1

Juventus – 80/1

Benfica – 100/1

Celtic – 125/1

Monaco – 125/1

Sporting Lisbon – 125/1

Lille – 150/1

PSV – 150/1

Feyenoord – 200/1

Brest – 350/1

Club Brugge – 350/1

10:22Joe Doyle

Who can Arsenal face?

The Gunners have already qualified for the last 16, and due to the new format this year they also know the four teams they could face – Milan, PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord or Juventus.

The upcoming draw will add some certainty for the clash, narrowing it down to two of those teams, who will face each other in the play-offs.

COMO, ITALY – JANUARY 14: Fikayo Tomori, Tammy Abraham and Alejandro Jimenez of AC Milan celebrate the victory at the end of the Serie A match between Como 1907 and AC Milan at Stadio G. Sinigaglia on January 14, 2025 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) (Image: Getty Images)

10:02Tom Canton

Arsenal’s final Champions League first phase match and Watkins reality

There was always a chance that the trip to Girona was more about what would happen for Arsenal off the field over the result which was effectively assumed. While Mikel Arteta was adamant he was focused only on the actions of his side on the pitch, the breaking news of a bid for Ollie Watkins superseded any conversations around the club.

In some ways it was a shame because there were talking points from the match that were rather intriguing. A debut for goalkeeper Neto marred by a mistake and David Raya sitting on the sidelines with the briefing from the Arsenal manager that he could certainly not be involved with the clash against Manchester City looming on the near horizon.

Ethan Nwaneri stepped up to help his side turn around an unexpected deficit courtesy of former Tottenham forward Arnaut Danjuma. The 17-year-old may indeed be the best finisher fit and available in the group.

Read the full story here.

Arsenal are running out of time to complete a deal for Ollie Watkins (Image: Marc Atkins – AVFC/Aston Villa

When will Arsenal play their last-16 matches?

Due to scheduling, it has been revealed that Arsenal can only play their last-16 clashes in March on two specific dates.

09:30Tom Canton

Mikel Arteta was not keen on Champions League ramifications

Mikel Arteta faced the media following a tricky win in the UEFA Champions League over Girona that confirmed their progression through to the last-16. Jorginho scored a penalty to respond to the early opener from Arnaut Danjuma, and then Ethan Nwaneri scored a brilliant strike which was heavily praised by his coach.

There were questions about the end of the transfer window amid news that a bid was rejected for Ollie Watkins. The focus on what awaits in the last-16 is where the focus will turn next.

Read every word from the press conference as Arteta faced the media here.



Mikel Arteta faced the media following Arsenal’s match with Girona in the UEFA Champions League (Image: Alex Pantling – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Tom Canton

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to football.london’s live coverage of the UEFA Champions League draw.

While we know the teams who have made it to the last-16, eight of them at least, the remaining 16 sides will now battle it out to join them with the likes of Arsenal keen to know who they might be facing and the draw will provide a better idea.