Arsenal fans are all saying the same thing after brutal Champions League draw

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Arsenal have discovered their potential route to Champions League glory after the draw was made on Friday morning.

The Gunners secured their place in the last 16 of Europe’s prestigious competition by finishing third in the inaugural league phase, behind Liverpool and Barcelona.

PSV Eindhoven await Arsenal in the round of 16, in a clash that has taken place in each of the last two seasons.

If the North Londoners can negotiate their way past the Dutch side, they’ll face the winners of Real Madrid’s tie with Atletico Madrid in the quarter-final.

If Mikel Arteta’s team manage to overcome all of that, a semi-final against one of Liverpool, Aston Villa, Paris Saint-Germain or Club Brugge awaits.

• READ MORE: Arsenal’s nightmare route to the Champions League final revealed following draw, Mikel Arteta look away now

Arsenal fans react to the Champions League draw

Arsenal recorded statement victories over Sporting and PSG in the Champions League league phase, but knockout football is a different kettle of fish, and the Gunners faithful have certainly recognised this.

With the league looking out of their grasp, Arsenal have set their sights on the Champions League, although hope has been somewhat diminished after Friday’s draw.

The fanbase are despondent by the route that’s been mapped out to the final, with the feeling being that Arteta’s side don’t have it in them to overcome the hurdles to reach the pinnacle game in Munich in May.

One fan wrote simply on X: “Pretty much the worst possible draw for us there.”

Another added: “Terrible draw, to be honest. Home legs first in the quarters and semis, PSV instead of Feyenoord, Real Madrid likely in the quarters, an English side likely in the semis…”

Meanwhile, one supporter was deflated at the prospect of starting Ethan Nwaneri, Leandro Trossard and Raheem Sterling against Real Madrid.

They vented: “Imagine starting Sterling Merino Trossard at the Bernabéu.”

One fan offered a slightly more optimistic outlook, writing: “Not the side of the draw we wanted, but we need to focus on PSV before thinking about Real Madrid. We should win comfortably, but nothing can be taken for granted in the Champions League. The next month is about one game at a time for Arsenal until Saka & Martinelli return.”

Another provided an ever more upbeat approach to the draw: “On the timeline right now seeing how many Real Madrid and Barcelona fans are happy they didn’t draw Arsenal, that just shows how feared we are.”

Arsenal have no reason to fear anyone in the Champions League

While the thought of playing Real Madrid is certainly frightening due to the plethora of talent at Los Blancos’ disposal, Arsenal shouldn’t fear them or anyone else.

Ultimately, the Gunners finished third in the league phase, showcasing where they stand amongst the best in Europe.

In the process, Arteta’s team established an impenetrable defence that conceded just three goals in eight matches, and one from open play.

On the underlying metrics, Arsenal conceded fewer expected goals than any other side, and this should stand them in good stead in the knockout round.

Bukayo Saka should return to action before the quarter-final stage, and with him in the team, the North Londoners just have to keep games tight and hope they can find a goal from somewhere.