Andy's Football highlights

The all 36 teams and seeding pots for the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase draw are fully finalized following the conclusion of the final playoff matches.

The draw takes place today, Thursday, 27 August 2026, in Nyon, Switzerland, to determine the eight league phase opponents for each club.

Here is the complete distribution of the 36 finalized teams across the four seeding pots, ordered by their UEFA club coefficients:

Pot 4PSG, Bayern, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Inter, Man City, Arsenal, Barcelona, AtléticoDortmund, Roma, Sporting, Aston Villa, Porto, Man Utd, Brugge, Betis, PSVFeyenoord, Lille, Napoli, Leipzig, Villarreal, Shakhtar, Gala, Fener, BodøSlovan, Stuttgart, AEK, Como, Lens, Sabah, LASK, Slavia, Viking

Arsenal option gains attraction for Julian Alvarez as Barcelona hopes fade:

Now It is becoming increasing clear that if Julian Alvarez leaves Atletico Madrid this summer, it will not be to join Barcelona.
The Catalans have been chasing a deal for months, and while they have the player's favour, agreeing a deal with their La Liga rivals has proven to be almost impossible.

Barcelona have made multiple offers for Alvarez, but on every occasion, the response from Atleti has been the case: we will not sell to a direct rival.

With the summer transfer window due to close next week, time is running out for an agreement to be reached, which is why the likelihood is that one does not happen.

This would be of great disappointment to Alvarez, who is desperate to join Barcelona. As per Marca, he has already accepted that a move to the Spotify Camp Nou will not happen this summer, and if he were to leave, the only chance would be to return to the Premier League with reigning champions Arsenal.

Alvarez hasn't approved Arsenal option yet

For weeks, Arsenal have been waiting in the background for Alvarez. They are aware that he wants to join Barcelona, but with Atleti blocking that option, they also know that they are favourites to sign him, and if he gives the green light for a move to be made, they will ask quickly.

Now that he's accepted a move to Barcelona will not happen in 2026, Alvarez could open the door to Arsenal. He's not been keen on a return to England, but with Atletico Madrid relations at an all-time.

Arsenal players nominated for the 2026 PFA awards, there were actually four Arsenal players across the main individual awards:
David Raya — PFA Players’ Player of the Year nominee
Gabriel Magalhães — PFA Players’ Player of the Year nominee
Declan Rice — PFA Players’ Player of the Year nominee
Max Dowman — PFA Young Player of the Year nominee
However, none of those four won the individual men's awards. Bruno Fernandes won Players’ Player of the Year, while Nico O’Reilly won Young Player of the Year.
Arsenal did have five players in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year: Raya, Gabriel, Saliba, Timber and Rice.

Rate noni maduake against Coventry city

Will they make a good pertaneship?

Yes — Riccardo Calafiori and Christos Tzolis are already developing a very promising partnership on Arsenal’s left side.
Calafiori provides the overlapping runs, carries the ball forward and can move inside into midfield.
Tzolis gives Arsenal width, pace and 1v1 ability from the left wing.

Martinelli and Arsenal move
Having already turned down an approach from Galatasaray earlier this summer, Gabriel Martinelli is still on the chopping block following a poor season.

Inter Milan, Roma, Atletico Madrid and Juventus are all reportedly interested in the 24-year-old winger, with Arsenal holding out for €60m to sanction his departure.

The Brazilian was left out of the match-day squad in their 3-0 thumping of Coventry in the opening game of the season.

Arsenal legend, lan Wright, is 'uncomfortable' with Arsenal's treatment: "In respect of Martinelli and the way Martinelli is being treated at the moment, it really makes me feel uncomfortable," he said to Sky Sports.

The way he's been treated at the end here. I know they might want him out and people might say, 'yeah, it's time to move him on.

"There's ways to do that. It should suit him as well, how he wants to leave. Not being involved in the squad, not being spoken to, doesn't know what's going on. I know this, I know this.