After the opening night of the league phase of the 2025/26 Champions League, it’s a case of North London 2-0 Spain, as both Arsenal and Tottenham won their opening matches against Spanish opposition. With plenty of tougher games to come in the league phase, it was essential for both teams to get off to a positive start. Thankfully for fans of the north London rivals, their sides delivered.
In this article, we’ll look back at how the Gunners and Spurs earned their victories, and we’ll cast our gaze ahead to see who they face as the league phase progresses.
Athletic Club 0-2 Arsenal – Arteta’s Astute Substitutions Make the Difference
Three points on the road ✊
A special Champions League night in Bilbao 🌟 pic.twitter.com/v7QDuuUiJP
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 16, 2025
On paper, Arsenal’s trip to Bilbao to face Athletic Club is the easiest of their away games in the league phase of the Champions League. (They also face Slavia Prague, Club Brugge, and Inter Milan on the road.) But Arteta’s men still had to get the job done, and they did so with determination and a steely resolve that bodes well for the rest of the season. Despite Arsenal starting with five of their new signings, it was two of the players who’ve been with the club for some time who made the difference in the end.
It wasn’t a wholly convincing start for the north London side, and Bilbao looked the more likely to get the opening goal in the first half. But the Gunners held their nerve and never looked panicked. Indeed, after the break, Arsenal showed more energy and invention and began to create more openings. With around 25 minutes left and the scores still at 0-0, Arteta made the first change, bringing on Leandro Trossard for Viktor Gyokeres, who had sustained a head injury. A few minutes later, the Arsenal boss brought on Gabriel Martinelli (for Eberechi Eze), and the Brazilian made an immediate impact, scoring the opening goal after being on the pitch for barely half a minute.
The goal gave the visitors added belief, and they pushed for a second, which duly came in the 87th minute as Trossard found the back of the net. Arsenal fans will be buoyed by the result – if not the display, which wasn’t of the highest quality overall. And, importantly, it gave the indication that the Gunners now have enough depth in their squad to implement a plan B when required, which will be essential if they are to challenge for silverware this term.
Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Villarreal – Spurs Do Just Enough to Earn Victory
“Our togetherness is so important.” 🤍
Thomas Frank’s verdict on our Champions League win against Villarreal 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/u8NWoXROR8
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) September 16, 2025
This was Thomas Frank’s first-ever game in the Champions League (neither of his previous clubs, Bronby or Brentford, made it to those dizzy heights under his stewardship), and he was determined to get off to a winning start. He managed it, but only just. And he has one man to thank above all others: Villarreal goalkeeper Luiz Junior, whose appalling mistake in the 4th minute ultimately proved the difference between the sides.
As goalkeeper blunders go, this one was up there with the worst of them. After a rather weak driven cross from Tottenham’s Swedish midfielder Lucas Bergvall, Junior inexplicably fumbled the ball into the back of his own net. The goal served to spur Tottenham to an excellent performance in which they did enough to create a few decent chances but also – crucially – keep their opponents at bay. Indeed, the visitors, who are currently sixth in La Liga, didn’t muster a single shot on target during the match.
Okay, Spurs managed only one on-target effort themselves, but with their noses in front, they didn’t need to take any undue risks. The home side enjoyed 58.2% of the possession, and in a tight and even match, Frank – and the Spurs fans – will be relieved they managed to come away with the crucial three points.
Who Else Will Arsenal and Tottenham Play in the Champions League?
When the draw was made for the league phase of the tournament, Arsenal were in Pot 2 and Spurs were in Pot 3 (of four), meaning both sides would face higher-ranked opposition at some point. Interestingly, each of the north London sides was the highest-ranked side (based on the UEFA Club Coefficient) in their pot. But let’s see which other teams are in store for the pair.
Arsenal’s Champions League Fixtures – 2025/26
- Matchday 1 – Athletic Club 0-2 Arsenal, 16th September 2025
- Matchday 2 – Arsenal v Olympiacos, 1st October 2025
- Matchday 3 – Arsenal v Atletico Madrid, 21st October 2025
- Matchday 4 – Slavia Prague v Arsenal, 4th November 2025
- Matchday 5 – Arsenal v Bayern Munich, 26th November 2025
- Matchday 6 – Club Brugge v Arsenal, 10th December 2025
- Matchday 7 – Inter Milan v Arsenal, 20th January 2026
- Matchday 8 – Arsenal v Kairat, 28th January 2026
If Arsenal can win their next two CL matches against Olympiacos and Atletico Madrid, both at home, they will be in a very strong position. Slavia Prague away shouldn’t be too problematic for the Gunners, but then they face very tough opponents as Bayern Munich visit the Emirates. Club Brugge is very winnable on the road, but a trip to Inter Milan in January will be tricky to say the least. Finally, Arsenal complete their league phase fixtures against Champions League debutants Kairat of Kazakhstan.
The average UEFA Club Coefficient of the sides Arsenal face in this phase is 69.6, which is the sixth lowest of any side. As such, in theory at least, they have a great chance of finishing in the top eight to advance to the Round of 16 as one of the seeded sides.
Tottenham’s Champions League Fixtures – 2025/26
- Matchday 1 – Tottenham 1-0 Villarreal, 16th September 2025
- Matchday 2 – Bodo/Glimt v Tottenham, 30th September 2025
- Matchday 3 – Monaco v Tottenham, 22nd October 2025
- Matchday 4 – Tottenham v Copenhagen, 4th November 2025
- Matchday 5 – Paris Saint-Germain v Tottenham, 26th November 2025
- Matchday 6 – Tottenham v Slavia Prague, 9th December 2025
- Matchday 7 – Tottenham v Borussia Dortmund, 20th January 2026
- Matchday 8 – Eintracht Frankfurt v Tottenham, 28th January 2026
Clearly, the toughest match Tottenham face is PSG away. It will be an excellent test of whether Spurs can compete at this level. But even if they don’t get a result in Paris, there are plenty of other games that should go their way. Matches against Bodo/Glimt, Copenhagen and Slavia Prague should result in victories. While Dortmund at home and Frankfurt away could be tough, victories in those are not impossible if Tottenham make progress under Frank.
The average UEFA Club Coefficient of the sides Spurs play is only slightly higher than that of Arsenal’s opponents, at 70.9. That is the eighth lowest, so again, on paper at least, Frank’s men have a very good chance to progress.