Arsenal will play in the Champions League for a 16th consecutive season, and 10-man Schalke scraped into the group stage along with them after beating PAOK Salonika in a thrilling encounter on Tuesday.
With a 3-0 lead over Fenerbahce from the first leg, Aaron Ramsey netted twice at the Emirates Stadium to ensure Arsenal comfortably won the playoff 5-0 on aggregate.
“At the top level, the most difficult thing is to be consistent and of course it’s an achievement ... but our ambition is much higher than that,” said manager Arsene Wenger, whose Arsenal side has never won European football’s biggest prize.
It was a nervier night for Schalke, which overcame US midfielder Jermaine Jones being sent off to win 3-2 at Salonika and advance 4-3.
Steaua Bucharest will be in the group stage draw for the first time in five years after drawing 2-2 at Legia Warsaw to go through on away goals after the first leg finished 1-1.
Basel, already leading Ludogorets Razgrad 4-2, won 2-0 on home soil to cruise into Thursday’s draw where it will be joined by Austria Vienna, which squeezed through 4-3 on aggregate, despite losing 3-2 on the night at home to Dinamo Zagreb.
At the Emirates Stadium, Fenerbahce gifted Arsenal the lead after 25 minutes, with Ramsey providing the finish from close range.
