Have Arsenal qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League? What do they need from Girona clash?

Arsenal’s Champions League campaign continues on Wednesday night as they sit third in the table with just one game of the ‘league phase’ left to play.

Mikel Arteta’s side are in fairly good form, as they are unbeaten in four games in all competitions, and won 1-0 against Wolves in their last match at the weekend. Defender Myles Lewis-Skelly was sent off controversially during the match, however, Arsenal are expected to appeal the decision.

They are yet to make a January signing this window but have been linked to signing several top strikers including Benjamin Sesko, Victor Osimhen and Matheus Cunha. Many have called for the Gunners to sign a number nine after Gabriel Jesus suffered an ACL injury earlier in January.

They play against Girona in the Champions League in their next match, which will be their last in the ‘league phase’ of the competition. However, are they already through to the round of 16, and if not, what do they need to happen in the last round of fixtures in the league phase?

Have Arsenal qualified to the round of 16 of the Champions League?

The Gunners have won five of their seven games in the Champions League, drawing one match, and losing one. They are three points clear in the top eight places, which would give them automatic qualification to the round of 16, without having to go through a playoff.

In the new Champions League format, teams in places 9-24 will have to go through a playoff in order to continue in the competition, whereas the bottom 12 teams will be eliminated altogether.

Arsenal have not officially qualified for the next round of the Champions League, however, they are all but confirmed in the next round due to their goal difference. 10 teams will begin the final round of fixtures within three points of the Gunners, meaning that they could overtake them in the table.

However, even if they lose to Girona on Wednesday night, their current +12 goal difference should be enough to keep them in the top eight places, even if the teams behind them win their games. If Arsenal want to confirm their place after the Girona match, they will need at least a point to secure a top eight place.

Who has qualified for the round of 16 of the Champions League?

Only two teams have qualified for the round of 16 after seven matches, the two teams that are above Arsenal in the Champions League table.

Liverpool have secured their spot in the next round, after a perfect Champions League campaign so far. They have won all seven games, including victories over the likes of Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, and Arsenal’s opponents Girona. Arne Slot’s team face a game against PSV for their final outing but will be able to rest some key players if they want to.

Meanwhile, La Liga side Barcelona have also qualified for the round of 16, after winning six of their opening seven matches. They have lost one game, which came against Monaco in September.

In other news, according to new reports, Chelsea have identified RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko as a target late on in the January window.