Arsenal Receive Huge Champions League Boost After UEFA Rule Change

Arsenal could be dealt a huge advantage in this year’s Champions League knockout phase due to a little-known UEFA rule change which came into effect ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The Gunners are currently top of the 36-team Champions League phase, having won all six of their fixtures, with their latest triumph coming against Club Brugge on December 10 as Gabriel Martinelli’s strike and a Noni Madueke brace handed Arsenal a 3-0 win in Belgium.

Of course, finishing in the top eight guarantees progression to the round of 16, while teams that finish between ninth and 24th will take part in a two-legged knockout phase play-off to confirm their spots in the last 16.

And with Arsenal all but assuring their qualification, they still have a further incentive to win their final two group phase games against Inter and Kairat Almaty in January.

Arsenal have all but secured their spot in the knockout phase (Credit:Getty)

Due to a UEFA rule change, Arsenal could further benefit from their strong position in the league phase.

In the 2024/25 season campaign, home advantage was decided by a random draw after the round of 16.

If a team finished higher in the group phase, they could still play their first leg of all knockout ties - including the quarter finals and semi finals - at home rather than away, with playing at home usually seen as an advantage in second legs.

Arsenal were impacted by this last season as they were forced to play Real Madrid at home in the first leg of their quarter-final despite finishing third in the league phase, while Los Blancos progressed through a play-off victory against Manchester City.

Mikel Arteta's side have won all six league phase games (Credit:Getty)

However, as per UEFA regulations, this time around, teams that finish between first and fourth in the league phase will play their return legs in the last eight at home. Also, teams who finish first and second will also play the return leg of the semi-finals at home.

UEFA also states: “If a seeded team is beaten in any round, the team that eliminates them takes over their seeding position in the bracket path.”

As of today (December 11), Arsenal and Bayern Munich will benefit from their league phase positions, while the reigning champions, Paris Saint-Germain, in third, and Manchester City, in fourth, will also secure home matches in the return leg of their quarter-finals if they retain their current positions. Of course, with two matches remaining for all 36 teams following the completion of gameweek six, positions will likely change before the conclusion of the league phase.