A UEFA rule change would essentially stop Arsenal from coming up against Inter Milan at the San Siro during next season's Champions League league phase. Let us explain.
Last week, Arsenal learned which teams they will face in this season's Champions League league phase – Bayern Munich (H), Inter Milan (A), Atletico Madrid (H), Club Brugge (A), Olympiakos (H), Slavia Prague (A), Kairat Almaty (H) and Athletic Bilbao (A).
Mikel Arteta's side were once pitted against Inter Milan in the eight-game 36-team league phase, with Mikel Arteta's side being scheduled to face the Serie A giants on January 26, 2026.
Inter finished fourth in last season's league phase but after beating Barcelona at the semi-final stage, they suffered the biggest defeat in Champions League final history to Paris Saint-Germain.
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The Gunners, meanwhile, will be hoping for revenge after suffering a 1-0 defeat against Inter at the San Siro on matchday four in 2024/25.
Arsenal will once again travel to the San Siro in January, but next season, they will essentially be blocked from facing Inter at the 75,000-capacity stadium due to a UEFA rule change.
As per the UEFA website, the UEFA Club Competitions Committee has determined an additional condition that may be applicable to the Champions League draw for the 2026/27 season, deciding that any individual fixture between the same two teams may not be repeated in the same competition with the same home team for three consecutive seasons.
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As mentioned above, Arsenal travelled to the San Siro last season and will once agains face Inter at the stadium for matchday seven in January 2026.
The website adds: "This means that if any teams that already played against each other in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League in the 2024/25 season are again drawn against each other, with the same home team, in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League in this 2025/26 season, those teams will not be able to be drawn against each other with the same home team in the 2026/27 season (although, for the sake of clarity, those teams could still be drawn against each other at the venue of the other team)".
In short, if they were pitted against each other next season, then the match would take place at the Emirates.
The rule change would also stop Real Madrid from playing Liverpool at Anfield in the 2026/27 Champions League league phase.
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When do clubs submit their squads for 2025/26 UCL league phase?
Arsenal, who are yet to announce their squad list for the competition's league phase, have until 24:00 CET on Tuesday, September 2 to submit.
"Every club must submit two lists of players, including details such as shirt number, date of birth and nationality," the UEFA website reads.
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"In addition, the lists must include confirmation by the club's doctor that all players have undergone the requested medical examination. List A needs to be submitted to the relevant association to be verified, validated and forwarded to UEFA by 24:00 CET on Tuesday 2 September. The same process applies to List B (more details below), which must be submitted no later than 24:00 CET the day before each match."
Topics: Arsenal, Inter Milan, Champions League, Mikel Arteta
Jack Kenmare