Arsenal will begin their Champions League campaign with a trip to Atalanta, but Gunners supporters may be left wondering why the match is kicking off on a Thursday

The one-time winners are often in contention to lift the trophy towards the end of the campaign, meaning the anthem is regularly played inside the stadium, and the new format only increases the frequency. It's become an accepted trope on Champions League nights on the blue side of Manchester for well over a decade now - but why?

The Spanish team surprisingly finished third in LaLiga behind Real Madrid and Barcelona but have complex ties to the Premier League club.