Arsenal Champions League semi-final dream scenario revealed with one announcement left

Arsenal have one foot in the Champions League semi-finals. Had they been playing anybody but Real Madrid then their place in the last four would be all but secure at this stage.

A second leg at Santiago Bernabeu can carry anything, though, and Arsenal will be all too aware of counting their chickens just yet.

Mikel Arteta certainly won't be getting ahead of himself. It is his job to ensure that the squad remains grounded ahead of the biggest fixture in the club's recent history as well.

There have been Premier League title race showdowns in previous years but here is a golden opportunity to beat one of the Champions League favourites for a spot in an open and entertaining (on paper) semi-final group which may include Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, and Inter.

PSG look like the team to beat right now but it is an exciting potential quartet. We are only at half-time in the ties but the direction of travel has been set by strong wins for Arsenal, Barcelona, and PSG.

After all, Arsenal can afford to lose 2-0, 3-1, or by any two-goal margin in Spain on Wednesday and they will still progress.

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Defending and keeping games tight has been this team's forte over the last two years as well, so it all plays into Arsenal's hands. Get through the inevitable Madridness about late-stage Champions League games and Arsenal will be three games from total glory and immortality.

Their run in a potential semi-final is still logistically challenging, though. Not only is it most likely that they would be facing PSG - who hold a 3-1 advantage over Aston Villa heading to Villa Park - but their fixture list is tough.

They have gone, slowly but surely evaporating over time but truly sealed this weekend despite a few odd results in 2025 providing brief spurts of optimism.

This is a caveat we will not be making again.

But what does the semi-final fortnight look like when written down? It starts with a home clash against Crystal Palace. This match has been moved from Saturday, April 26 to Wednesday, April 23 due to Palace's FA Cup semi-final commitments.

Oliver Glasner's side are in good form themselves, buoyed by their domestic cup run. Despite losing to Manchester City on Saturday, they have plenty of weapons. Arsenal are not about to be sucked in a top five battled, though, so really have very little to lose in this match. Palace's mind is also going to be on Wembley and preservation rather than three points.

It will give Arsenal extra time to prepare for the semi-final first leg, which will be at home (due to being on this side of bracket) on either Tuesday, April 29 or one day later. However, things come thick and fast after that.

Currently, Arsenal are down to face Bournemouth, also at home, on Saturday, May 3 in the evening kick off. That would give them either two full days (Sunday and Monday, although Monday would be a travel day) of rest before the away leg on Tuesday, April 29, or it will be an extra day off ahead of the match on Wednesday, April 30.

If Arsenal play on Tuesday, April 29 for the first leg then the return will be on Wednesday, May 7. Should they be on Wednesday, April 30 for the home game then it will be Tuesday, May 6 for the second leg. There are two potential pathways here.

Scenario 1:

Crystal Palace (H) - April 23.

Champions League semi-final first leg (H) - Tuesday, April 29.

Bournemouth (H) - Saturday, May 3.

Champions League semi-final second leg (A) - Wednesday, May 7.

Scenario 2:

Crystal Palace (H) - April 23.

Champions League semi-final first leg (H) - Wednesday, April 30.

Bournemouth (H) - Saturday, May 3.

Champions League semi-final second leg (A) - Tuesday, May 6.

Given the additional time ahead of the first leg, Arsenal can feel in a strong position. Their schedule also providing three home matches in a row is definitely notable. It will minimise travel and keep things familiar before the semi-finals dynamite. This is the sort of thing that could make all the difference.