Theo Walcott cannot wait to see the Champions League return for another year, and after watching the draw unfold in Monaco, our former forward has his eye on a number of big fixtures.

Our three-time FA Cup winner was representing us in the principality, as we learned who we’ll face in the league phase of the competition.

Theo played against a host of our opponents we will come up against this season, including Bayern Munich, Olympiacos and Slavia Prague, and the former England international is especially excited by the prospect of the German champions returning to Emirates Stadium this year.

“All the games are really exciting,” he said in Monaco. “I look at Bayern Munich, seeing the likes of Harry Kane coming to England to play at the Emirates, which will be very hostile for him, I’m sure, it will be fascinating.

“Olympiacos, I’ve played them a few times; a very difficult team to play. They’re all standout fixtures and Arsenal will want to go that one step further than they have done in previous years. I feel like this year, they’re a bit more equipped with the squad and depth they now have.”

Read more Champions League league phase draw made

We will face Bayern, Olympiacos, Atletico Madrid, and Kairat Almaty at our home, and travel to Slavia Prague, Club Brugge, Inter Milan, and Athletic Club – with the dates for all eight games to be announced on Saturday.

Asked about our chances of progressing, Theo was confident and believes we have the squad to fight on all fronts.

He said: “I think the ambition is always to be successful. When you look at the number of players that have come in, the whole board and Josh Kroenke have done incredibly well, and Andrea as well, who’s just come in.

“I think it’s that competitive edge they have now, that hunger, that desire, that fight, I think that’s the change Arsenal will show this year, and the signing of Viktor Gyokeres as well, which is the missing piece of the puzzle.

“I think they’re really well equipped to be in a really good place. They’ve got so many players to pick from.

“I’m really pleased with Arsenal’s fixtures, they don’t have to travel as far as well, so I think that’s a bonus going into the domestic side of things. It’s a good night, but they will want to be in that final.”

Register your interest for hospitality packages at our four home Champions League fixtures

Read more Meet our eight Champions League opponents!

 

Copyright 2025 The Arsenal Football Club Limited. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source.