Arsenal may come up against a familiar foe in the UEFA Champions League round of 16, as former Gunners striker Robin van Persie is set to be appointed as the new head coach of Feyenoord.
The Gunners enjoyed an impressive league phase in the competition, finishing third with 19 points. Their top-eight placement allowed them to bypass the knockout phase play-off tie, joining Aston Villa, Atlético Madrid, Barcelona, Bayer Leverkusen, Inter Milan, Lille, and Liverpool in advancing directly to the round of 16.
They were later joined by Bayern Munich, Benfica, Club Brugge, and Feyenoord, while Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and PSV Eindhoven secured their spots through the play-offs.
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As a seeded team, Arsenal are guaranteed to play the second leg of their round-of-16 tie at home. Their potential opponents include Juventus, PSV Eindhoven, or Feyenoord—setting up the possibility of a reunion with Van Persie at the Emirates Stadium.
Feyenoord earned their spot in the last 16 by defeating AC Milan 2-1 on aggregate. While their domestic form has been underwhelming, currently sitting fourth in the Eredivisie, they have made a strong impression in Europe.
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Van Persie, who controversially left Arsenal for Manchester United in 2012, is on the verge of taking over at Feyenoord. The 41-year-old, currently managing Eredivisie side Heerenveen, is expected to finalise his move on Thursday. Feyenoord have been without a permanent manager since Brian Priske was sacked on February 10, with Pascal Bosschaart serving as interim boss.
A potential clash between Arsenal and Feyenoord would see Van Persie return to the Emirates in a managerial role—an event sure to stir emotions among the Arsenal faithful, given the nature of his departure over a decade ago.
Despite ongoing injury concerns, Arsenal will be optimistic about their chances of progressing to the quarter-finals. However, they must remain focused to avoid an upset.
