Arsenal will face Atalanta in the Champions League last 16 after the Italian side secured their place in the knockout stages with a dramatic late penalty win against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday night.
The Gunners finished top of their group, winning all eight fixtures and conceding the fewest goals of any team in the league phase. This performance secured a top-two finish and guaranteed Arsenal will host the second legs of their knockout matches. Their straight progression to the last 16, a benefit of finishing in the top eight in the current competition format, also allowed them to avoid a two-legged play-off tie.
Leverkusen also advanced to the last 16, drawing 0-0 with Olympiacos to complete their aggregate victory. Atalanta’s win means Arsenal will face the Serie A side, while Leverkusen will play against a yet-to-be-determined opponent.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta lauded his team’s courage after the 3-1 victory over Inter Milan at the San Siro on January 20th, 2026, a result that officially confirmed their top spot in the group. Arteta described the San Siro as a “cauldron” and praised his players for a “superb display.”
“I’m very happy, super proud of the players,” Arteta said following the Inter Milan match. “We talked about doing something special tonight, and it was going to require a very, very complete performance to have the opportunity to win, and collectively, I think we understood the game really well.”
The win against Inter saw Cristhian Mosquera make a significant return from injury, delivering a “terrific” 75-minute performance against Inter’s attacking duo of Marcus Thuram and Pio Esposito. Arteta also highlighted the importance of individual performances and the team’s “emotional control” and “aggression” on the night.
Despite their Champions League success, Arsenal’s rearranged Premier League fixture against Wolves did not go as planned, though details of that match were not immediately available.
Arteta had faced the media at the San Siro prior to the Inter Milan match, discussing the differences between this year’s fixture and last year’s, the importance of the game, and team selection. He confirmed that both Cristhian Mosquera and Kai Havertz were available for selection.
The Champions League last 16 first legs are scheduled to be played in February and March 2026, with Arsenal hosting the second leg of their tie against Atalanta.
