The Champions League proper is nearly here, with the draw ready and waiting to go, as Arsenal look to go one step further than last season.
The Gunners impressed last time out, reaching the semi-finals of the competition, which included a huge win against Real Madrid on the way.
It didn’t quite end in glory, though, as Arsenal lost to PSG in the final four, with the Parisians going on to win the entire competition.
The 2025/26 campaign offers revitalised hope of achieving the dream of winning the Champions League, as Mikel Arteta waits to see what route his side will have to navigate.
There will be some rivalries renewed and big clashes awaiting them, but there may also be a few familiar faces waiting for Arsenal around the corner.
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Former Arsenal star David Luiz qualifies for the Champions League with Pafos FC
The Champions League qualification rounds are coming towards an end, and with them come plenty of surprises.
Kieran Tierney’s Celtic were knocked out of the competition by Kairat Almaty of Kazakhstan, coming as quite a shock as they drop into the Europa League.
On top of that is a surprise return to the competition for David Luiz, four years after Arsenal first released him.
The Brazilian defender joined Cypriot side Pafos FC this summer, looking to help the side as they push for European success.
Pafos earned a surprise aggregate win over giants Crvena Zvezda, formerly known as Red Star Belgrade.
Luiz is part of their squad, along with former Hale End academy stars Vlad Dragomir and Kostas Pileas, continuing the theme of former Arsenal stars.
Pafos are also managed by Juan Carlos Carcedo, who took on a role as Arsenal assistant under Unai Emery for a short spell, before entering management himself.
It remains to be seen how the team from Cyprus manage in the Champions League, but a return for a few familiar faces could well be on the cards, depending on how the draw settles out.
David Luiz’s career since leaving Arsenal
David Luiz left Arsenal in 2021 and has since had three clubs to his name as he continues to play at 38 years old.
The defender moved to Flamengo immediately after, spending nearly four years at the Brazilian club to start with.
A short-term deal with fellow Brazilian side Fortaleza followed, before his switch to Pafos FC this summer.
| Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flamengo | 132 | 4 | 2 |
| Fortaleza | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| Pafos | 0 | 0 | 0 |
With plenty of honours to his name, another step into the Champions League could prove to be a fitting return for Luiz.
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