Arsenal around the competition phase of their Champions League campaign with a trip to Girona on Wednesday evening, but in reality the vast majority of hard work has already been done by the side of Mikel Arteta.
The Gunners come in third place in MatchDay 8 of the competition and guaranteed their place in the last 16, but they will still keep an eye on other results while trying to determine where they are in the table.
Girona, who lost 1-0 to Liverpool in December, is already being eliminated from the competition and plays their last European game of the season. However, that is certainly not the case for the Gunners, and here is how you can plot their potential next opponents.
Where will Arsenal end in the Champions League table?
If they win in Girona, as they should do, then Arsenal will finish second or third in the competition phase, apart from a remarkable goal difference wonders. If Barcelona beats Atalanta, the Gunners will finish third with a victory, when Barca pulls, they only climb above them in the second with a victory of four goals, and if Barca loses, Arsenal ends second with a victory.
If Arsenal does not win, they will remain to the results of Inter Milan (at home of Monaco), Atletico Madrid (road to Salzburg), AC Milan (road to Dinamo Zagreb) and Atalanta (road to Barcelona). Who would surpass them all in the table if they win and lose the Gunners, while Inter would do it if they win and draw Arsenal. Leverkusen, Aston Villa, Monaco, Feyenoord, Lille and Brest can also pass theoretically Arsenal, but it will not happen.
Is there a difference between second and third in the Champions League?
Yes, and it's pretty important. Teams that end first and second are placed on the other side of the bracket and cannot stand opposite each other to the final. If Arsenal finishes second, it means that Liverpool will have placed first, which means that they will not play the Reds until Munich's showpiece in May.
There is also the financial element. Every victory in the competition phase is worth around £ 1.7 million, with each trek around £ 587,000. Each position in the table is worth around £ 230,000 and there is a £ 1.6 million bonus for a top eight place.
Who plays Arsenal in the round of 16?
If the Gunners finish third or fourth, their most likely position, then the play -off positions are to keep an eye on 13th, 14th, 19th and 20th. Their round of 16 opponents comes from these teams, where the draw takes place on Friday at 11 am in the UK to determine which link it will be.
When Arsenal finishes second, their opponents of the sides come on the 15th-12th, while if they finish fifth or sixth, they are confronted with a side that came 11th-12th or one that came 21st-22. It is very unlikely that they will be lower than sixth.
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