Arsenal UCL draw: Confirmed pots, likely opponents rule changes and new format

Arsenal will shortly discover their Champions League group stage opponents as the much-anticipated draw takes place from 5pm on Thursday at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco

A big few days for Arsenal awaits. Not only is transfer deadline day fast approaching and a clash against Manchester United on the horizon, but Mikel Arteta's side will also discover their fate in the Champions League.

So with that said, which teams have already qualified for the Champions League? Who are the six other teams that are on course to qualify? What could Arsenal's group look like when the draw is made later in the week? Well, football.london answers all those questions and more.

Likely opponents

Below is how things stand going into the second leg of the Champions League play-off round as Arsenal will be joined in the competition by Rangers if they overcome PSV Eindhoven at this stage for the second year in a row, whilst Lucas Torreira's Galatasaray holding a slender advantage over Molde.

Young Boys vs Maccabi Haifa (0-0)

Galatasaray vs Molde (3-2)

Panathinaikos vs Braga (1-2)

AEK Athens vs Royal Antwerp (0-1)

Copenhagen vs Raków Czestochowa (1-0)

PSV Eindhoven vs Rangers (2-2)

Qualified teams

Although clubs cannot be drawn against teams from the same association, which means, for example, Arsenal will avoid Man United in the group stage.

Confirmed pots

Pot 1 and Pot 2 have been finalised with Arsenal and Man United in the latter. The remaining pots will be completed once the Champions League play-off round ties are over but AC Milan are confirmed to be in Pot 3 which means they can be paired with the Gunners in the group stage.

Pot 1: Manchester City, Sevilla, Barcelona, Napoli, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica, Feyenoord

Pot 2:Arsenal,