After a Premier League campaign that brought Arsenal so near but yet so far from the title in 2022-23, players and fans could at least console themselves with the knowledge that the club would be returning to Europe's big stage.

The Gunners haven't heard the Champions League anthem played at the Emirates since the 2016-17 season. Arsène Wenger was still in charge then, and few fans will want to remember the back-to-back 5-1 defeats to Bayern Munich in the round of 16 that saw them dumped out of the competition.

But, times have changed, and Arsenal look revitalized under the stewardship of Mikel Arteta.

In the Gunners' long-awaited UCL return, they will be fairly happy with the group they've been drawn into.

Sevilla was one of the less-threatening names from Pot 1, although the Europa League champion should not be underestimated. But the presence of respective Eredivisie and Ligue 1 runners-up PSV and RC Lens makes for a comfortable pool that the North Londoners will be confident of qualifying from, perhaps as group winners.