Arsenal face horror fixture schedule after Champions League dates confirmed

Arsenal’s return to Champions League football will bring a host of tricky months when it comes to fixtures – but none more so than a bumper October

Arsenal’s October will feature two crunch European away days, a trip across London – and even a clash against Pep Gaurdiola’s champions for good measure.

Mikel Arteta’s Gunners are back in the Champions League following their second-place finish in the Premier League last season and have welcomed the return of demanding fixtures.

However, fans wouldn’t be pleased to see plenty of big contests coming during the same calendar month, which begins with a trip to play Lens on October 3.

Five days later Arsenal will host Manchester City, a fixture which ended in a 3-1 defeat last season.

Arsenal stars will then face the drain of flying around the world on international duty before returning for the trip to Stamford Bridge on October 21.

Ending the month how they started, the Gunners then head to Spain just three days later on October 24 to take on Sevilla.

The final test comes on October 28 with the visit of Sheffield United, who might well be desperate for points in the bottom half of the table.

Those fixtures are enough to make or break the season of any team, with Arsenal’s group also including Dutch giants PSV.

Arteta’s squad will also be pushed to the limit with their high-profile arrivals made up of Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber, Declan Rice and loanee David Raya.

Departures included Pablo Mari, Folarin Balogun, Granit Xhaka and Rob Holding, the latter pair having made a combined 71 appearances last season.